14 hrs ago
UN experts say Belarus justice system silences Lukashenko critics
United Nations experts say Belarus has used its justice system to punish people who criticize the government.
They say police, courts, prosecutors, security services and prisons worked together.
The alleged mistreatment included arrests, torture, unfair trials and continued harassment after release.
The experts said these problems began after mass protests in 2020 and are still happening.
They also said some abuses might be serious international crimes.
Belarus has not cooperated with the experts and has rejected earlier United Nations criticism.
Alexander Lukashenko denies holding political prisoners and denies that the 2020 election was fraudulent.
Human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski said that new political prisoners continue to appear despite some releases.
UN experts accuse Belarusian institutions of coordinating repression against critics since 2020.
The report cites arbitrary arrests, torture, closed trials and denial of legal safeguards.
Judicial bodies allegedly legitimized abuses and denied victims effective remedies, the experts said.
The experts said some abuses since May 2020 could constitute crimes against humanity.
Alexander Lukashenko rejects claims of political prisoners and electoral fraud, saying authorities acted lawfully.
- Who
- The United Nations Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus made the findings; Belarusian authorities and critics of Alexander Lukashenko are central to the report.
- What
- The experts accused Belarusian state institutions of systematically using the justice system to repress actual or perceived opponents.
- Where
- Belarus, with the findings presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
- When
- The alleged pattern has continued since 2020; the report was to be presented during the week of September 15.
- Why
- The experts said state institutions acted to silence critics and sustain repression of opponents of Lukashenko’s government.
UN experts and human rights critics
Belarusian authorities
Use of the justice system
UN experts and human rights critics
The experts said courts, police, security services, prosecutors and prison authorities coordinated arrests, convictions, detention and surveillance to silence critics.
Belarusian authorities
Alexander Lukashenko says authorities acted lawfully to restore order, while Belarus has rejected United Nations criticism.
Political prisoners and abuses
UN experts and human rights critics
The experts described systematic violations and said some abuses since May 2020 could constitute crimes against humanity; Ales Bialiatski said new political prisoners continue to emerge.
Belarusian authorities
Lukashenko denies that Belarus holds political prisoners, describing the people concerned as “bandits.”
2020 presidential election
UN experts and human rights critics
The opposition and Western governments said the August 2020 election was rigged, with mass protests and a subsequent crackdown.
Belarusian authorities
Lukashenko denies electoral fraud.
Key facts
- Reporting date
- September 15
- Investigating body
- United Nations Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
- Alleged abuses
- Arbitrary arrests, torture, denial of legal safeguards, closed trials and post-release harassment
- Period examined
- Since 2020, including abuses since May 2020
- International finding
- Some abuses could amount to the crimes against humanity of persecution and imprisonment
- Belarusian response
- Belarus has rejected United Nations criticism; Alexander Lukashenko denies political prisoners and electoral fraud
- 2020 context
- Mass protests followed the August 2020 presidential election, which the opposition and Western governments said was rigged
Quotes
Ales Bialiatski
Former Belarusian political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
“the machinery of repression keeps running”
theprint.in
Sources
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