Human rights group reports opposition activist’s arrest to UN special rapporteurs

December 2, BPN. The Viasna Human Rights Center’s legal team has reported the arrest of Valancina Bołbat, an activist of the opposition’s Movement for Freedom, to UN special rapporteurs.

Viasna forwarded the report to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), UN special rapporteurs on freedom of expression, on freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the special rapporteur on human rights in Belarus.

Police arrested Bołbat on November 22 in Vierchniadźvinsk, Viciebsk region, presumably as part of a crackdown on former members of the Movement for Freedom. At least 25 of its activists are now in custody.

Police also searched Bołbat’s home, confiscating her computer and smartphone. A court in Navapołack sent her to jail for 10 days, finding her guilty of distributing opposition content.