Statement condemning the detention of participants of peaceful protest actions against Decree No.3 of the President of the Republic of Belarus

The European Youth Forum strongly condemns the persecution of young activists and the violations of the right to peaceful assembly, currently taking place in the Republic of Belarus.

Human rights activists have reported that on 15 March 2017 more than 50 participants of peaceful demonstrations were detained in Minsk and regional centers of Mogilev and Grodno. Among those who were detained and convicted are the representatives of Ecohome, a member of the Youth Forum’s member organisation the Belarusian National Youth Council “RADA”. Marina Dubina was sentenced to 14 days of imprisonment and Ksenia Malyukova was sentenced to 13 days of imprisonment.

The European Youth Forum supports RADA in its Statement on the recent repressive actions of the officials and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Belarus towards participants of peaceful protesters. We demand that the Republic of Belarus authorities respect the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of young people and uphold democratic principles and values.