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,
IFJ 16 February 2021
Belarus: Belarusian Association of Journalists under attack
The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) demand Belarusian authorities to stop immediately the persecution of journalists and the prosecution of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). At least 30 journalists and human rights defenders were targeted in police raids today. Credit: AFP
Early in the morning of 16 February, BAJ press secretary Barys Haretski was briefly detained by Belarusian security forces. BAJ’s lawyer Aleh Aheyeu and BAJ’s president Andrei Bastunets were also detained to witness the search of BAJ’s offices. Other searches and raids were under way Tuesday morning at the homes and offices of journalists and human rights activists in various cities across the country.
On 16 February, security forces searched the houses of a number of journalists and human rights defenders, as well as offices of the Belarusian Association of Journalists and Human Rights Center Viasna. At least 30 people were targeted in the raids.