Key Events: Feb 1-7

BELARUS

 

Jan 31: Switzerland reporter detained in Belarus.

Switzerland’s foreign minister said Sunday that a reporter for the country’s public broadcaster who was detained by police in Belarus has been freed. Luzia Tschirky, a correspondent for Swiss broadcaster SRF, said she was detained by masked men as she was heading to meet an acquaintance for coffee in Belarusian capital Minsk. SRF condemned the incident, saying Tschirky was detained “for no reason” and adding that she has a valid press accreditation for Belarus.

Feb 2: Latvia to host world ice hockey championship after Belarus stripped of co-hosting. Safety concerns over political unrest, the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus and sponsors threatening to pull out if the tournament was held in Minsk (prompted the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to strip the country of co-hosting rights)[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2A2235] last month.

Feb 3: OSCE demanding release of political prisoners in Belarus.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE has reviewed an audio recording where Mikalai Karpenkau, head of the Internal Troops of Belarus, speaks of his plans to set up a camp for protesters. The PA members criticized the intention to create camps and the order to shoot protesters, and called for releasing Ihar Losik and other political prisoners, bringing all those responsible to justice, and launching an international investigation on the recommendations of the OSCE Moscow mechanism.

Feb 3: Belarus signals Lukashenko won’t cede any real power at congress.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is set to keep most of his presidential powers at a planned congress next week that he called to discuss constitutional changes in response to unprecedented protests against his 26-year rule.

Feb 4: New data on Belarus protests. Who is participating?

“You didn’t have to actually be involved in the current protests to have been politicised by them. Half of our respondents told us they knew someone who had taken part in the protests since August. Moreover, 20% of respondents said that either they themselves or friends and family members had suffered violence during the protests.”

Feb 5: Protesters will have to pay fines they already paid with the help of solidarity funds.

The Lukashenka’s Investigative Committee reports that multiple facts of financing illegal mass events have been established. For instance, the payment of fines by third-party organizations and individuals for the participants of rallies. Thus, the people against whom the administrative penalty was imposed “did not actually bear responsibility”.

Feb 5: Youngest political prisoner in Belarus and mentally disabled man sentenced.

Homel 15 year old has been sentenced to 2 years of special educational institution of a closed type, making him the youngest political prisoner in Belarus. He was accused of defamation, public insult to a government official in connection with the performance of his duties, illegal collection or dissemination of privacy information and fraud. Same time, Zhlobin citizen with intellectual disability was sentenced to 2 years in the maximum security correctional facility for participating in protests and blocking traffic on August 8-11.

Feb 5: Belarus: 17 organisations call for all imprisoned journalists to be immediately released.

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has issued a statement that was signed by 16 other international journalists organizations ahead of the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus on 7 February. In statement it’s said that Belarus authorities have used violence, threats, and arbitrary detention to intimidate journalists and prevent them from doing their jobs. Reporters and photographers wearing press vests have been deliberately targeted by law enforcement. According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), journalists were detained 480 times in 2020. They have spent over 1,200 days behind bars, often without being told what, if any, charges they face.

INTERNATIONAL

Feb 4: Members of US Congress speak out in support of Belarus.

(Watch) In recognition of the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus on February 7, PEN America is sharing statements from members of the U.S. Congress expressing their support for the Belarusian people and reminding the world that the struggle for free expression and democracy in Belarus has not been forgotten. From across the nation and political spectrum, three senators and nine representatives join PEN America in expressing their commitment to supporting human rights in Belarus.

Feb 4: US Mission address to OSCE by Chargé d’Affaires Courtney Austrian.

“The United States welcomes this opportunity to recognize the upcoming Day of Solidarity with the people of Belarus on February 7. This Monday, we will mark six months of peaceful protests following the fraudulent August 2020 presidential election in Belarus. We continue to be amazed by the strength, resilience, and courage of the Belarusian people demanding their voices be heard. In the face of rising repression from state security services and biased courts, they have continued their active and vibrant movement in small gatherings..”

Feb 6: The German chancellor Angela Merkel urges Belarus to end political repressions, says protestors not forgotten.

In her weekly video message she says that Germany and European Union will continue to hold the Belarus government responsible for ongoing violations of human rights in the country. Merkel expressed support to the peaceful protesters in Belarus, describing their democratic movement as “admirable perseverance against electoral fraud.” Merkel also announced further measures that Germany would start offering to Belarusians in humanitarian need, including easier access to visas, scholarships and support to independent media.

Feb 6: Germany allocates USD 25 million to support Belarusian opposition amid political crisis.

Germany allocates 21 million euros to implement the Action Plan Civil Society Belarus initiative aimed at providing support to the Belarusian opposition. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas assured Belarusian people that Germany and the European Union stands with them.

Feb 7: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and US Ambassador Fisher lay wreaths at Kalinouski’s grave.

U.S. Ambassador Julie Fisher and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya have laid wreaths at the tomb of Belarusian, Lithuanian and Polish hero Kastus Kalinouski at Rasos cemetery in Vilnius. Thus the politician and the diplomat marked the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. For the last few days, Julie Fisher, who has been appointed U.S. ambassador to Belarus, has been in Vilnius. Here the diplomat met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, representatives of her office, the Cabinet of Representatives as well as some Belarusian initiatives and organizations.