Widespread arrests, harassment, and reported torture  | View in browser.

  "I come out to protest as a defender,
an observer and a witness" 

- 73-year-old Nina Baginskaya, one of over 300 women arrested
on September 19 during the Women’s March in Minsk  

>> Sign Amnesty's petition to demand an end
to police violence against peaceful protesters

Dear John,

Every day, thousands of Belarusian people continue to take to the streets across the country to protest what they see as a rigged presidential election. The police crackdown has been brutal and unrelenting. 

All members of the opposition Coordination Council are now either in exile or detention, including Maryia Kalesnikava, who reportedly tore up her passport to prevent her expulsion from the country. She faces up to 5 years in prison on charges of "actions aimed at undermining Belarusian national security".

Dozens of other high-profile political and civil society activists have also been arrested on trumped-up charges. Some were targeted solely for their human rights work.

Human rights defender Marfa Rabkova, from the prominent Human Rights Centre “Viasna”, was arrested on September 17. A close and longstanding partner of Amnesty International, Viasna is one of the most important sources of information about human rights violations in Belarus.

Marfa Rabkova has been central to that effort, coordinating the monitoring of street protests and the collection of testimonies of survivors of torture and other human rights violations. Now she herself is at risk in detention.

WATCH VIDEO: Hundreds of women detained by police
during peaceful protest

Since Belarus’ presidential election on August 9, the world has been shocked by images and reports that expose brutal police violence against peaceful protesters, in the streets and in detention.

>> Sign this petition to demand that the police violence ends now, and those responsible are held to account.

Hundreds of thousands of Belarusian people have taken to the streets across the country to protest electoral violations, police brutality and severe reprisals against peaceful dissent; demanding truth, justice and accountability for the perpetrators.

The authorities have responded with widespread arrests, harassment and intimidation, using rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas and water cannons against protesters. Over 7,000 people have been detained, including dozens of journalists. Hundreds reported torture and other ill-treatment in police stations and detention facilities. At least two protesters have died.

Amnesty International and local human rights groups have collected horrifying testimonies from protesters who describe being tortured or subjected to other ill-treatment in detention centres, including being stripped naked, beaten, and threatened with rape. 

Former detainees told us about being forced to lie in the dirt while police kick and beat them with truncheons. They described being stripped naked and subjected to sadistic beatings while listening to the screams of other victims.

These are people whose only “crime” was to take to the streets in peaceful protest. What we are seeing in Belarus is a human rights catastrophe that demands urgent action.

> Please join this global petition now for the protection of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Belarus. 

What’s happening in Belarus right now is an unprecedented level of protest activity, and an equally unprecedented crackdown on human rights by the authorities.

Thank you for joining tens of thousands of Amnesty supporters around the world letting the Belarus government know that the world is watching.

In solidarity, 

 

Hilary

Hilary Homes
Crisis & Tactical Campaigner
Amnesty International Canada

P.S. Belarusians demanding respect for their human rights on the streets need solidarity from people like you. Add your name to the global petition to stop the violence and hold those responsible to account.