International NGOs from Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Slovakia launched a joint campaign for the removal of the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship from Belarus due to the country’s poor human rights record.

In 2009 the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) decided to host the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Belarus. Today Belarus finds itself in the most alarming human rights crisis since the country became an independent state in 1991.

After the release of former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau and his authorized representative, Dzmitry Bandarenka on 14 and 15 April 2012, based on information of Belarusian human rights organisations at least 13 people are held in prison who were sentenced for political reasons to prison terms from 2 up to 8 years at the moment. There are reports that several of the prisoners were tortured and ill-treated.

Belarus remains the only country in Europe that uses the death penalty. According to human rights groups, about 400 people have been executed in Belarus since 1991. In March 2012 two men had been executed whose trial failed to meet international fair trial standards and who allegedly were tortured in order to obtain a confession.

The human rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association are violated in Belarus everyday. The Belarusian KGB and police frequently detain and interrogate opposition activists, journalists and human rights defenders, search their appartments and offices. There are several cases of political parties and NGOs being closed or denied registration.

The international NGOs are calling to the IIHF and the representatives of the national IIHF member organisations, to suspend its plan to hold the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Belarus.

According to the aims of the joint NGO campaign the 2014 IIHF World Championship should only take place in Belarus after the Government of Belarus has fulfiled several human rights demands, amongst others the release of all political prisoners, a moratorium on the death penalty and an end of the persecution, harassment and intimidation of dissidents.

„To hold the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Belarus would support and legitimatise a regime which violates the human rights of the people of Belarus in an alarming way“, an online petition says, which was published on the campaign website: www.minsk2014.no

The events of recent weeks have brought a significant dynamic into relations between Belarus and the European Union. A diplomatic spat gradually evolved into a mass recall of ambassadors by individual EU member states from Minsk for consultation.

One of the issues that can influence this diplomatic war is the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship. Indeed, in two years the championship is to be held in Belarus, which is the subject of strong criticism from human rights organisations and others.

In recent months, International Ice Hockey Federation President René Fasel has repeatedly rejected the possibility that the world championship could be rescinded from Belarus – this despite appeals from the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress.

Moreover, since May 2009 when the hockey championship was awarded to Belarus, the domestic political situation there has worsened significantly (especially in connection with the fraudulent presidential elections and subsequent repressive measures). This strongly undermines the legitimacy of the original decision, which was problematic in and of itself.

One of the most recent reactions is thus a petition by former hockey star and current Member of the European Parliament Peter Šťastný and Polish MEP Marek Migalski which seeks to relocate the championship elsewhere unless political prisoners are freed and a moratorium on the death penalty is issued. The petition can be signed here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/iihf-suspend-the-2014-ice-hockey-championship-in-belarus

Cabinets, chairs, tables, computers, lamps and even a toilet bowl - all these items were unloaded from moving vans in front of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Prague in February. Instead of registration numbers, however, the office furnishings were labelled with posters proclaiming “Belarus: Human Rights Evicted” and “Freedom for Ales Bialiatski”. This was the Czech rendition of a series of international demonstrations in support of Belarusian political prisoner Ales Bialiatski and human rights organisation VIASNA, whose exponent he is. The VIASNA organisation helps victims of political persecution in Belarus and monitors election fraud and violations of the election law during the country’s elections. VIASNA was established in 1996, but was banned by the Belarusian regime in 2003 for its independent monitoring of elections. VIASNA is also a member of the prominent International Federation for Human Rights, and Ales Bialiatski is vice-president of this institution. The UN Human Rights Committee has stated that the ban on VIASNA’s activities constitutes a violation of international law.

19th December, 2011

Today's first appeal was the morning solidarity event in front of Embassy of Belarus in Prague, calling for freeing Ales Bialiatski and other Belarusian political prisoners. This was followed by simulated arrests of students at the Charles University and by a flashmob in the centre of Prague. The event taking place on the anniversary of Belarusian presidential election was organized by the NGOs People in Need, NESEHNUTI, Amnesty International CR and Civic Belarus, in cooperation with the Belarusian community in Prague.

The year that has passed since 19th December 2010 was in Belarus affected by dozens of construed trials against people opposing the dictatorial regime. Besides participants of protests against the controversial elections, a trial was also held with the leader of the most significant Belarusian human rights organization Viasna, Ales Bialiatski. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison with confiscation of his whole property for alleged tax evasion. Other trials with his colleagues are still on.

Although some of the sentenced participants of the post-election protests have throughout the year been released, six of them are still kept in prison, including two opposition presidential candidates. Five of the imprisoned persons are denied medical help despite their severe health conditions.

“Unfortunately, the last year has brought increasing repressions and violence in Belarus. It is also for this reason that we want to express our support to all people in Belarus who are still fighting for better conditions in their country. This morning we handed over to the Embassy in Prague the appeal to release Ales Bialiatski,” says Katerina Spacova from Civic Belarus.

The appeal to release Belarusian political prisoners was also joined by students of Charles University, Prague who participated in simulated student arrests on the premises of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The event took place this afternoon with the aim of giving local students the sense of the situation in Belarus, where students can be imprisoned for their opinions. It was organized by Prague's university group of Amnesty International.

Later during the day, a flashmob attended by 100 people ran through the centre of Prague commemorating the summer Silent protests. Lida Vackova from People in Need comments: “Czech people expressed their sympathy by picking up 80 postcards to be sent to Belarusian political prisoners, and tens of people signed the petition for releasing the political prisoners and imposing moratorium on death penalty.

As a part of our campaign "Let us add courage to Belarusians" we have recently established a donors SMS service designed to provide support to persons persecuted by Lukashenko administration. It’s very simple,  just send an SMS in the following format:

DMS BELORUSKO to number 87 777

The cost of DMS is 30 CZK, Civic Belarus will receive 27 CZK.

Now you can also set up regular monthly contribution for one year period. Just send an SMS with DMS ROK BELORUSKO to number 87 777 and every month your mobile account will be automatically charged for the amount of 30 CZK.

For more information, please visit www.darcovskasms.cz.

You can also send your contributions to the transparent bank account:
2900120912/2010

The main part of collected funds have already been transferred to our Belarusian partners to support people persecuted by the regime. For example, transferred funds partly covered the fines for participation in anti-regime demonstrations and the costs resulting from fabricated administrative proceedings against civic activists.