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Belarus Call for donations - Help Defend Human Rights and Free Elections in Belarus

September 29, 2020

EPDE has launched a solidarity campaign to collect donations for immediate legal assistance and humanitarian support of citizen observers and activists in Belarus. Go to the donation website at www.helpmundo.de to donate!

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Belarus 300 detained in protests across Belarus

September 24, 2020

According to Viasna, at least three hundred protesters were detained last night across the country, as thousands of people protested the unannounced inauguration of Lukashenka. Many detainees were beaten with truncheons, resulting in head injuries. Several protesters were hospitalized after their brutal detention. Riot gear was also used. In particular, in Minsk, peaceful protesters were dispersed with water cannons spraying colored liquid.

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Belarus List of political prisoners detained over “rioting” charges increases

September 18, 2020

A volunteer coordinator of EPDE’s member organization, the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, as well as her husband were detained yesterday over charges of causing mass riots. Meanwhile, her husband has been released. There is a growing pressure on civil society in the country as authorities' repressions continue. Human rights organizations as well as the European Parliament and UN experts call for a cessation of violence by authorities against protestors and for the release of now over 80 political prisoners in the country.

more ... List of political prisoners detained over “rioting” charges increases

Armenia Policy Alert #5 - Armenia’s Stable Majority Constitutional Provisions Under Review

The 2015 Constitution promised that Armenia would move toward a fully proportional parliamentary model. However, a number of other provisions serve to distort the translation of votes to seats in practice. They include provisions for various bonus seats and the exclusion of political parties from campaigning if no government can be formed and a “second round” vote is held.

more ... Policy Alert #5 - Armenia’s Stable Majority Constitutional Provisions Under Review

Belarus Over 250 criminal cases opened since launch of election

Viasna reports that authorities in Belarus have opened over 250 criminal cases targeting participants of the presidential election, peaceful protesters, and bloggers. This report explains the charges in these cases and regularly updates a list of all persons being charged.

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Azerbaijan Deepened political crisis in Azerbaijan during the COVID-19 pandemic

EMDS issued a briefing document analyzing the measures taken by the state with regards to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in Azerbaijan and the implementation of quarantine rules. This report describes the new political situation in the country in light of increasing political persecution during the quarantine period.

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Belarus Viasna activist Marfa Rabkova is political prisoner

Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of the Volunteer Service of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, is still being detained as a political prisoner and human rights organizations call for her immediate release and that persecution by authorities against her, other members of Viasna, and other Belarusian human rights activists must stop.

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Moldova Neither potential election candidates, nor voters are on equal footing

Promo-LEX’s second interim report includes the following key observations: there is an uneven increase in the number of voters, unequal opportunities for potential candidates and for certain categories of voters, unreported campaign expenses amounting to at least MDL 735,021 (37,456 EURO), and contestants taking credit for activities funded by public money. The live broadcast of the press conference presenting this report is available with English interpretation here.

more ... Neither potential election candidates, nor voters are on equal footing

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