Belarus: Arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment of member of “Viasna” Marfa Rabkova

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment of Ms. Maria (a.k.a Marfa) Rabkova, Coordinator of volunteer services at the Human Rights Center “Viasna” who notably participated in documenting evidence of torture and other inhuman treatment of detained participants in the recent post-election demonstrations in Belarus[1].

According to the information received, on September 17, 2020, at around 9 pm, Ms. Maria Rabkova and her husband were arrested by masked officers of the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBOP) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus as they were walking back to their home in Minsk. Ms. Maria Rabkova’s husband was put in a separate vehicle and brought to their apartment, where the police conducted a search and confiscated their computers and phones. He was then hooded and brought to a police station before being released in the morning of September 18, 2020.

As of publishing this Urgent Appeal, Ms. Maria Rabkova was being hold as a suspect in the Okrestina Preliminary Detention Center in Minsk. She is accused of "training or other preparation of persons for the participation in mass riots, or financing of such activities" under Article 293 paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code of Belarus2. The Investigative Committee of Belarus is in charge of the case.

Ms. Maria Rabkova, as well as other members and volunteers of Viasna, had previously received threats from law enforcement officials, including officers of the GUBOP, notably through messages passed to them by political prisoners.

The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over Ms. Maria Rabkova’s detention and judicial harassment, which seem to be only aimed at punishing her for her legitimate human rights activities, in particular in relation to her mobilisation of volunteers to help victims of police violence As part of her human rights activities, she also monitored peaceful assemblies, took an active part in the campaign of independent monitoring of the August 9 elections called "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections", and participated in documenting evidence of torture and other inhuman treatment of detained protesters.

The Observatory further fears that her arrest comes as retaliation to Viasna’s steadfast monitoring and reporting of human rights violations that are occurring in the framework of the violent repression of the post-election demonstrations in Belarus, and that other Viasna members may be in turn targeted.

The Observatory urges the Belarusian authorities to guarantee in all circumstances Ms. Maria Rabkova’s physical integrity and psychological well-being; and to release her immediately and unconditionally.