Amnesty International reacts to confiscation of Viasna's office

"The confiscation of the office of the human rights centre Viasna is a rude violation of Belarus' international obligations in the field of human rights and the freedom of association," reports BelaPAN quoting the statement.

"The freedom of assembly is the basic human right and the cornerstone of any democratic society. The Belarusian Constitution guarantees the freedom of assembly to everyone but we can see that the right for the freedom of association, assembly and expression are being violated in Belarus every day," Díaz-Jogeix claimed.

The Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Programme  noted that the confiscation of Viasna's office was performed at the moment when "the situation for everyone involved in the protection of human rights in Belarus has worsened.

Amnesty International reminded that Ales Byalyatski, head of the human rights centre Viasna imprisoned for 4.5 years on November 24, 2011, is a prisoner of conscience.

Officers of the court and eviction of Viasna. (photo)