They include the termination of diplomatic relations.
Ukrainian human rights organizations called on the Ukrainian authorities to respond to the repression of the Belarusian human rights activists and journalists. They provided the
Charter97.org website with the text of the statement.
- The authorities of the Republic of Belarus continue to attack civil society. On 16 February, the regime of dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka dealt a blow to the most well-known human rights organizations - HRC Viasna and the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). Searches were carried out in the offices of these organizations and the apartments of more than 40 human rights activists and journalists throughout the country.
16.02.2021, 10:09
The usurper fell into complete chaos.
Early in the morning, the press secretary of the public association Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ)
Barys Haretski managed to report that the security forces had come to him. Later it became known that they also came to the BAJ lawyer
Aleh Aheeu and the chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists
Andrei Bastunets. In addition, searches are also carried out on journalists and human rights activists in different cities, tut.by reports. Andrei Bastunets is being taken away by the police officers of the Minsk city executive committee. At least that s how they introduced themselves. The house is not searched, but Bastunets is taken away, as the search will be carried out in the BAJ office, said the wife of Andrei Bastunets,
Dunja Mijatović reacted to the lawlessness of the Belarusian authorities.
Harassment of journalists and human rights defenders in Belarus is unacceptable, said Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Dunja Mijatović, naviny.online reports. Harassment in Belarus through searches, arrests, and criminal prosecution of journalists and human rights defenders, including partners of the Council of Europe and the UN, is unacceptable, she wrote on Twitter. Freedom of expression, association, and assembly must be ensured in accordance with international human rights standards.
Earlier, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) demanded that the Belarusian authorities immediately stop persecuting representatives of the media and the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). The statement was a reaction to a series of searches of the BAJ leaders and the organization s office, as well as in the homes and offices of journalists and human rights activists. EFJ calls on the