The Belarusian authorities must end their crackdown on political opposition, activists and critics, and fully respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of everyone in the lead up to presidential election on 9 August, Amnesty International said today. In a statement Belarus: Growing Crackdown on Human Rights ahead of Presidential Election, the organization documented a wave of reprisals against political opponents, activists, critics and independent media.
“There is no safe environment for political debate in Belarus, and there is a growing crackdown on human rights in the context of the forthcoming election. The wave of activism currently taking place in Belarus is unlike anything the authorities have faced for years, and they have responded by brutally crushing peaceful protests and dissent and punishing opposition leaders,” said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director.
“Opposition candidates along with their supporters are smeared, targeted and incarcerated under trumped-up charges, with women particularly targeted. One opposition activist was threatened with having her children taken into state custody; another was threatened with gang rape in a police station.” “In Belarus, opposition politicians and supporters are treated as criminals simply for exercising human rights and taking part in the political and elections processes,” said Marie Struthers.
Source: Amnesty International
Global site 
Finnish site