Human Rights House Foundation

“[The work of #humanrights defenders] is not only necessary because of the world we face today—it is the foundation for a more just, secure and democratic future.” Read more in our Annual Report ➡️ bit.ly/HRHFar25

“Belarusian culture is stateless.” Read the new interview with poet and HRD @niadbaj / @pen_belarus on the growing risks for cultural actors & why supporting Belarusian culture — including inside the country — is an investment in regional security. bit.ly/4dUHztd

Glad @HRHFoundation is again part of ONE WORLD in Brussels next week, incl. as co-host of "Politzek: The Voices That Defy the Kremlin" on 23 April. The festival opens space for urgent questions around human rights, gender inequality & climate. Programme: oneworldinbrussels.com

The designation of Belarusian #HumanRights organisations @pen_belarus, @HumanConstanta & @Belhelcom as ‘extremist formations’ has been condemned in a statement by IBAHRI and partners as being politically motivated persecution. Read and share: tinyurl.com/wczmjzhw #Belarus

#Belarus designated three human rights organizations as "extremist formations." Now even victims of human rights violations who seek help risk criminal prosecution. We speak out with @LRWCanada @IBAHRI @fidh_ru @HRHFoundation @article19org @pen_belarus @Viasna96 and others. 1/8

There is no better time than now for the international community to support #humanrights and democracy in #Serbia, says Jovana Spremo / @YUCOMoffice, “now is the moment when [international actors] are being watched by our citizens.” Full interview: bit.ly/47CWGnK

"We see pressure on HRDs through intimidation of relatives in occupied territories and organisations being placed on Russia’s 'undesirable' lists-including @RchrSev since 19 January this year..." bit.ly/40jRVuv - full interview with @KateRashevska/ @RchrSev @HRH_Crimea

❗️ Regime has annulled the passport of Ales Bialiatski It has been revealed that the passport of Ales Bialiatski, founder of @viasna96 and #NobelPeacePrize laureate, has been declared invalid. The document was originally valid until 2028. Ales Bialiatski considers this decision to be both arbitrary and illegal: "This is another form of transnational repression aimed at making life difficult for deported political prisoners outside the country. The authorities are ritually cutting our ties with Belarus. It is a futile effort, as Belarus will always be in our actions and our hearts." The annulment of passports for #politicalprisoners forcibly removed from #Belarus is becoming a systemic practice.

❗️ Human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich's passport declared invalid Belarusian authorities have declared the passport of @viasna96 human rights defender and former political prisoner Uladz Labkovich "invalid." Despite the document being valid until 2027, it has been officially annulled. Labkovich himself considers this decision further evidence of the regime's crimes: "Such steps further strengthen the case for proceedings at the International Criminal Court regarding the illegal deportation of political prisoners." As a reminder, following his release from a penal colony where he served a seven-year sentence for his human rights work, Uladz was forcibly deported to Ukraine on December 13, 2025. Upon deportation, his passport was never returned; instead, he was issued only a temporary certificate with no expiration date. Viasna is aware of other political prisoners in a similar situation who were deported from #Belarus in September and December of last year.

@hrhyerevan @belhrh @HRH_Crimea @HRHZagreb @HRHTbilisi @hfhrpl @hrhbelgrade @EHRH_Chernihiv @IndexCensorship @RaftoFoundation

JUST RELEASED: 2025 Annual Report In 2025, HRHF worked closely with the Network of #HumanRightsHouses and other civil society partners to defend human rights and support perseverance amidst global uncertainty. ➡️ bit.ly/HRHFar25

A lecture series by human rights defenders of the Human Rights House Crimea has started

❗️UN #HRC61 extends mandates of Group of Independent Experts and Special Rapporteur on #Belarus for one year

HRHF is happy to join the Community of Practice and work alongside civil society and other stakeholders to advance the protection of #humanrights defenders.

#HRC61: HRHF highlights accelerating authoritarianism and systemic repression in #Georgia.

✊ How the world supported Valiantsin Stefanovic behind bars @viasna96 deputy chair Valiantsin Stefanovic spent more than four years behind bars and was released on March 19, 2026. In his first interview, he spoke about the solidarity shown to him from around the world and how the Belarusian authorities responded to it. "In 2021, I received a lot of letters from all over the country, and from abroad, and some children's drawings — one said "to a good mister," and a cat was drawn. I also remember a package with chocolate from a German woman named Susanne. Sadly, I never received it — but it still meant a lot. It was deeply moving to know that people remembered me and supported me in this way. I am very grateful. It truly mattered. The authorities understood this as well — that such solidarity and attention help political prisoners. So they did everything possible to stop it. The letters stopped. They knew that solidarity is a powerful force — something that can change the world. That's why they did everything they could to suppress it, to destroy it, to make sure it would disappear." Full interview - spring96.org/en/news/119881 #FreeViasna #FreeThemAll

#HRC61: HRHF highlighted the issues of forced displacement on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, as well as documentation from Ukrainian civil society partners on the persecution of journalists, civic activists, and Crimean Tatars.

#HRC61: HRHF & @HRHZagreb urge #Croatia to: 1⃣ Ensure full access to public spaces for peaceful assemblies 2⃣ Introduce effective safeguards against SLAPPs 3⃣ Strengthen coordination for implementing int'l #humanrights recommendations in consultation w/ civil society

Civil society voices from Serbia highlighted pressures on the judiciary and democratic backsliding at the #SHDMI Side Event. 🔎 shorturl.at/Ki84U

Our colleagues Marfa Rabkova, Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Nasta Loika were among 250 political prisoners pardoned in #Belarus yesterday. We continue to call for justice for their politically motivated imprisonment, and for the release of 1100+ political prisoners in the country.