Belarus: Severe repression of peaceful protesters against the war in Ukraine

Interactive Dialogue on the OHCHR report on Belarus (in accordance with the resolution 46/20)

Thank you, Mr. President.

We thank the High Commissioner, the independent experts and their team for this important report, which paints a grim picture of the human rights situation in Belarus in the aftermath of the 2020 election and confirms OMCT’s findings: torture and ill-treatment were widespread and systematic and were largely punitive in nature against individuals for their real or perceived opposition to the government.

The violations described in the report are not confined to the past. At the end of February, thousands took the street to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a rigged constitutional referendum ditching Belarusian non-nuclear status and giving lifetime immunity from prosecution to the president if he leaves office. Around 800 peaceful protesters were detained, and many were severely beaten. One of the victims reported that during detention he was hit 14 times with a baton, five of which on the head. The detention conditions are still inhuman. Cells are extremely overcrowded, detainees are denied medical care and basic items such as mattresses and linens or banned from receiving packages from their families.

The OHCHR examination remains crucial to document and investigate the ongoing human rights violations in Belarus, all the more so as the ability of local civil society to carry out their work has been seriously jeopardized by State repression and persecution.

Do the High Commissioner and the experts that conducted the examination see the need for further documentation and investigation into violations that took place in 2021 and 2022 to establish responsibility for the crimes committed?

Thank you.