Today, on 01 March 2019, the Center-right coalition in Belarus (Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, United Civil Party, Movement “For Freedom” – EPP observer members) issued the statement, where the Coalition leaders condemn the arrest and unlawful detention co-chairman of the BCD Pavel Sevyarynets and activists Nasta Huseva,Zmitser Paliyenka, Leanid Kulakou, Artsyom Charnyak, Volha Nikalaichyk and Maya Naumova. 

The statement calls the detentions and arrests of Belarusian citizens for participation in peaceful assemblies “a gross violation of human rights and the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus”. Pavel Sevyarynets, Zmitser Paliyenka, Nasta Huseva were detained without any reason prior to the planned protests. Their relatives and colleagues had no information about their whereabouts.

The right-centrists leaders said the actions of the Belarusian authorities can be “equated to the abduction of political activists, as the security forces who committed the capture and hold the people in unacknowledged detention, violated their basic rights as citizens”.

Vital Rymasheuski (BCD), Mikalai Kazlou (UCP), Yury Hubarevich (“For Freedom”) call the attention of human rights defenders and the international community to the fact that for the first time the Belarusian authorities have used the repressive legislation and arrested the suspects in administrative cases for three days as pre-trial detention, without presenting any charges and without being able to communicate with their relatives or lawyers, without access to justice. They also called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop the attempt to unwinding of the next round of repressions against political and civil society in Belarus.

The situation with freedom of media remains complicated. The hearings of the so-called “Belta” case continue. The state prosecutor Yulia Harcheykina found Maryna Zolatava’s guilt proven and asked for the punishment by a fine of one thousand base units (25.5 thousand BYN).

In today’s the “Big conversation with the president” Alexander Lukashenko attacked the political opposition and free media.