Continuing repression of peaceful protest in Belarus
Libereco together with 37 organizations from 16 countries has sent a protest letter to the Belarusian authorities to condemn the continuing repressions against civil society in Belarus and the recent arrests of peaceful demonstrators.
Since 15 June 2011, at least 1730 people have been arrested during peaceful demonstrations across the country. In the past two months, civic activists have been organizing silent protests in the streets through social networking media. Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered across the country in order to peacefully protest against the deteriorating political and economic situation in Belarus.
The organizations call upon the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop harassment of those who exercise their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, release the demonstrators remaining in prison and stop preventive detentions of journalists and human rights defenders.