Alyaksandr G. Lukashenka – President
ul. Karla Marxa 38
220016
Minsk
Belarus

Dear President Lukashenka

Re: Please release Tsimafey Dranchuk and make Mikalay Astreyka’s release unconditional

I wish to express my grave concern over the imprisonment of Tsimafey Dranchuk, a member of the independent election monitoring group Initiative Partnership, who was arrested on 21 February 2006 by State Security Committee officers.

Tsimafey Dranchuk is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of association, and should be released immediately and unconditionally.

I am pleased to learn that another member of Initiative Partnership, Mikalay Astreyka, who was arrested together with Tsimafey Dranchuk, was released on 17 November. However, I am concerned that restrictions continue to be imposed on him and call on you to ensure that all conditions on Mikalay Astreyka’s release be immediately dropped.

Measures should be put in place to ensure that civil society activists, promoting and defending human rights in Belarus, do not suffer any form of obstruction, harassment or intimidation in relation to their peaceful and legitimate work.

Laws, regulations and practices on the registration and activities of non-governmental organisations, in particular the law on Public Associations adopted in August 2005, should be reviewed and amended to ensure that they fully accommodate and respect the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Yours sincerely,