Belarusbrief March 2021 (Pdf)
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BelarusBrief News from the Belarusian Diaspora in the USA, MARCH 2021 aba-together.org March 2021 marked eight months since the start of mass protests against the rigged presidential elections of August 2020. According to human rights observers, in March the human rights situation in Belarus “deteriorated significantly, indicating a further aggravation of the crisis.” (via Spring96 and UN Human Rights) BELARUS INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE DIASPORA Detained since August: >35,000 The U.S. State Department will impose “Face It: Faces of the Belarusian Detained in March: at least 1,139 sanctions for nine state-owned Protest” exhibition opened at Newman’s ‘Political prisoners’: 322 Belarusian companies. The sanctions Art Gallery in San Francisco. It displays were in place before 2015 but were illustrations and photos of Belarusian artists The police carried out preventative arrests paused then. The State Department calls inspired by 2020 election events. Another of numerous activists and admins of local for the release of all political prisoners. (via exhibition, “Come and See,” took place in chats. The authorities sought to prevent the RadioFreeEurope) Boston, MA, on Belarusian Freedom Day. renewal of large-scale protests on March 25, Belarus Freedom Day. On March 25 and U.S. House of Representatives Committee With the project B4B Journey, a white-red- 27, more than 400 people were detained in on Foreign Affairs held a hearing with white Belarusian flag travels from a brutal and random arrests, targeting Belarusian human rights activist and pro- Belarusian to a Belarusian worldwide to journalists especially. (via AP, CPJ, and democracy leader Sviatlana unite the diaspora. It arrived from Spring96) Tsikhanouskaya. (via Committee on Minneapolis, MN, to Chicago, IL, where a Foreign Affairs) group of local Belarusians went on tour with 631 peaceful protesters faced criminal it, covering iconic landmarks of the city. (via charges in March. 400 were convicted, Belarusian pro-democracy leader Sviatlana Падарожжа БЧБ and Belsat in Belarusian) often receiving long sentences. (via Tsikhanouskaya says the OSCE and UN Spring96) are ready to facilitate negotiations between Rufina Bazlova’s online exhibition “The the opposition and the Belarusian History of Belarusian Vyzhyvanka,” Several prisoners protested inhumane government. (via DW) featuring protest-related comic detention conditions by going on hunger embroideries, opened on the library strikes or harming themselves. (via The UN Human Rights Council adopted a platform of UCLA on March 3. (via UCLA) Spring96) resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus. It provided independent UN FUTURE DATES & HOW TO HELP Nikita Zolotarev, a 16-year-old teenager experts with powers to examine human with epilepsy who in February was rights violations in Belarus in order to bring April 26 will mark 35 years since the sentenced to 5 years for “mass riots”, is perpetrators to justice. (via UN) Chernobyl nuclear accident, the largest now also accused of allegedly attacking a nuclear accident to date. 70% of the detention guard. According to his father, the The U.S. State Department, Chairman of radioactive fallout covered the territory of boy is held in solitary confinement and is the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Belarus. (via BBC) beaten regularly by guards. (via Belsat, in Bob Menendez, Chairman and Ranking Russian) Member of the House Foreign Affairs How to write letters to political prisoners if Committee Representatives Gregory W. you are outside of Belarus. (via Spring96) A mother of five faces up to 7 years in Meeks and Michael McCaul, prison for her “active protest activities.” She Representatives Bill Keating, Marcy Support workers of BelarusKali, was the admin of a local chat and organized Kaptur, Adam Kinzinger, Brian Fitzpatrick, GrodnoAzot, Naftan in their strike. (via neighborhood tea parties, walks, and and Jim McGovern released statements on BelarusTogether) More than 100 workers concerts. (via Spring96) March 25, Belarus Freedom Day. (via of Belaruskali continue their strike amid Committee on Foreign Affairs, StateDept a brutal crackdown by the authorities. (via Human Rights Center "Vyasna" is facing a twitter) RFERL, Belsat) criminal investigation and is accused of financing "unauthorized mass events." (via Representative Chris Smith called on the Volunteer with the Belarusian Student Amnesty) Biden administration to use the Belarus Support Association helping persecuted Democracy, Human Rights and students and professors. (via BeSSA) More than 1100 students and professors Sovereignty Act of 2020 to help the people were persecuted, including 31 professors of Belarus. (via Office of Chris Smith) fired and 243 students expelled. (via Honest People and Belarusian Students' Association) For weekly news on Belarus, visit BelarusFF.org. You can add your email to receive weekly news summaries. BelarusBrief, MARCH, 2021 March 25: Belarusian Americans celebrated Freedom Day on an unprecedented scale. Between March 19 and April 3, celebratory rallies occurred in more than 20 cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington. Belarusian communities gathered together in all major cities on the Belarusians of Philadelphia marked Freedom Day with outdoor West Coast to Freedom Day. With the help of sponsors and local performances from Belarusian, American, and Ukrainian bands. artists, activists in Los Angeles and Orange County organized an More than 300 guests arrived from New York, New Jersey, Ohio, art fair. $2,000 raised from its sales will go to Belarusian solidarity Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC to savor delicious potato funds. pancakes and a red-white-red cake. Viachka Statkevich, deputy of the BNR Rada, addressed the Communities in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, TX, organized Belarusian community of Miami, FL, in his commemorative speech. celebratory picnics. In Dallas, a family posted information about Later, guests played guitar and sang popular songs. Belarus on a billboard to draw attention to the events there. Belarusians in Boston, Denver, Detroit, and Washington, DC held In Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Honolulu, Minneapolis, Phoenix, their rallies near iconic landmarks in their respective cities. Along Pittsburgh, South River, NJ, and Noblesville, IN, local groups with many Belarusian American communities, they recorded held festive dinners with Belarusian dishes and quizzes. celebratory addresses to the people of Belarus..