Peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right and is enshrined in international law.
Amnesty International will consider any demonstrators who are detained for their peaceful protests as prisoners of conscience. The human rights organization is also calling on the authorities to inform all law enforcement officials, assigned to ensure law and order during the protests, that torture and ill-treatment are prohibited in any circumstances under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Belarus is a state party. The opposition has organized a peaceful demonstration for 17 October 1999 as a protest against President Lukashenka's increasingly unpopular rule. The opposition argues that President Lukashenka's mandate to stay in office officially ended in July 1999 and therefore he should step down and fresh elections should be held. President Lukashenka has refused to hold new elections and remains in power.