On August 9, the presidential election in Belarus was held with massive violations and voting fraud. Numerous facts of violations and falsifications were recorded by independent observers and human rights activists, which allows not to recognize the elections as free and fair.
Freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and the right to vote are basic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Belarus. Heading to the polling stations after the end of voting, as well as taking to the streets of cities, the citizens of Belarus expressed a peaceful desire to ensure transparent and unbiased vote counting.
Restricting access to information, encroachments on honor and dignity, groundless and brutal violence by law enforcement agencies, as well as the deliberate imprisonment of citizens are unacceptable violations of the Constitution and international obligations of Belarus, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The European Humanities University community is convinced that with a peaceful protest, residents of dozens of Belarusian cities have shown the whole world a unanimous demand for the authorities to observe democratic norms and the principles of the rule of law.
We speak out against any violence against peaceful protesters and call for ensuring citizens the right to free access to information, as well as the observance of freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Belarus. We condemn the violence and call for the immediate release of all detainees. Ensuring basic human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as the right to vote, is a fundamental value of any society.
The European Humanities University will continue to closely monitor what is happening in Belarus, and is also ready to provide support to university students in Belarus who will be repressed by the authorities.
We call on the international community to support all citizens of Belarus who have been subjected to repression and violence by the authorities.