A wave of searches of 2020 election observers taking place across the country
As Viasna human rights activists have learned, numerous searches and inspections of former observers of the 2020 presidential elections has been happening throughout Belarus for several days. The acts of intimidation are carried out by the State Security Committee.
Former observers have their phones checked; they are warned of criminal liability for "facilitating extremist activities." They are also filmed for "penitential" videos.
Human rights activists regard this latest attack on civil society as revenge for the activity of all independent observers in the 2020 elections.
At the current election campaign, Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections announced the launch of an expert election observation mission without using a network of observers.
"We are conducting an expert monitoring mission, because we have been sure that there will be repressions against human rights defenders and volunteers, and now they have begun even without any reason. These are the consequences of an increase in the level of repression on the eve of the elections, and they will affect all politically and socially active people one way or another," said Pavel Sapelka, a Viasna human rights activist.