Freedom House puts Belarus on most repressive regimes list

The U.S.-based human rights watchdog Freedom House has again included Belarus in the list of countries with the most repressive regimes. Belarus is placed near Chad, China, Guinea, Laos, Saudi Arabia and Syria, reports Belapan.

The chapter, devoted to Belarus, notes that the rights of political parties, NGOs and citizens are violated. The Constitution gives huge powers to control the government, the judiciary and even the electoral process, because president's decrees override laws.

The freedom of press is also systematically restricted, Freedom House wrote in the report. The rights of citizens to the freedom of assembly are also restricted.