BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

11/03/2010

U.S. Says 'Serious Violations' Of Human Rights Continued In 2009

Belarus Scores 'Very Poor'

Although Belarus has a bicameral national legislature and a governing cabinet under a prime minister, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has directly run all the country's institutions since he was elected president in 1994, the State Department said.

It says Belarus human rights record remained -- in its words -- "very poor" in 2009, as Lukashenka has undermined the rule of law and manipulated elections since 1994, and that the parliamentary vote in September 2008 didn't meet international standards.

The report says civilian leaders effectively maintained control of the country's military, but adds that members of the armed forces nevertheless commit human rights abuses.

For example, the Minsk government couldn't account for politically motivated disappearances, the document says, while prisoners are abused in government custody, and prison conditions are extremely poor.

The government also maintained the practice of arresting and imprisoning its citizens for such political crimes as criticizing state officials or joining demonstrations.

Civil liberties also were strictly curtailed in 2009, including freedoms of the press, speech, assembly, association, and religion. Corruption also was a problem in Belarus during 2009.

The report also highlighted discrimination against the ethnic Polish population and Roma. It said authorities continued to harass the unrecognized Union of Poles, its head Anzhelika Borys, and her associates.

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/content/US_Says_Serious_Violations_Of_Human_Rights_Continued_In_2009/1981237.html


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