Appeal to the Danish Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lene Espersen

International Media Support, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Danish Union of Journalists, the United Federation of Danish Workers (3F), SILBA and the Danish Outdoor Council are concerned about the treatment of civil rights activists, journalists and opposition party politians by Belarusian authorities following the country’s Presidential elections on 19 December 2010

Copenhagen, 14.01.2011

Around 10,000 Belarusians participated in protests in the capital Minsk following the elections. The police intervened, dispersing the crowd by force and several hundred protesters, including journalists and human rights activists, were injured or arrested. Amongst those detained by police were five out of the nine opposition candidates running against Lukasjenko. Police and KGB searched the offices of the election observers, confiscated equipment and arrested the office personnel arrested. More than 600 demonstrators and their supporters were arrested after the elections. We are concerned about the use of torture and the threats made against those arrested, as well as the lack of medical help provided to those still imprisoned.

Searches and interrogations of members of the opposition parties, civil rights organisations and independent media are still taking place and hundreds have been threatened and harassed by the KGB and the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Authorities have attempted to publicly undermine human rights and civil society advocates and pressure the lawyers working in defense of the arrested protesters. Recently released information indicates that three lawyers representing protesters have had their licenses to practice law withdrawn.

The situation in Belarus is one of severe gravity. The Belarus government has turned a blind eye to its international obligations and the authorities are no longer cooperating with the OSCE. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk has instructed the OSCE office in the country to suspend its work. Promises made to the EU as a condition for cooperation are no longer upheld. These latest developments are a huge step backwards for both democracy and human rights in the country.

While we welcome Minister for Foreign Affairs Lene Espersen’s comments in Danish media about the situation in Belarus, we would like to encourage the Danish Government to communicate directly with Belarusian authorities and to act via the channels provided by the EU and the UN. The Danish government should emphasise to the Belarus authorities that the current situation is unacceptable and do everything in its power to stop these serious breaches of human rights.

Denmark could also instigate a dialogue with neighbouring countries to Belarus, including Russia, in a joint effort to secure the release of those arrested and to bring to an end the oppression of the political opposition, human rights activists and independent media. Furthermore, we believe that Denmark should strengthen its efforts in support of the Belarusian opposition, civil society and independent media in relation to legal support, equipment and assistance to the family and friends of those still imprisoned.

Read the appeal in Russian or Danish.

Danish Institute of Human Rights
Danish Union of Dansk Journalists
International Media Support (IMS)
SILBA
United Federation of Danish Workers (3F)
The Danish Outdoor Council