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UN should address «urgent human rights issues» in Belarus, says high commissioner

The UN high commissioner for human rights will recommend the UN to address “urgent human rights issues” in Belarus.

In her report that will be discussed at the UN Human Rights Council’s 20th session to open on June 18, the commissioner says that the rights situation in the country has deteriorated after the December 2010 presidential election.

“The Government’s response to a mostly peaceful demonstration in Minsk [on December 19, 2010] contesting the electoral process, was followed by a massive crackdown on political opponents, human rights groups and independent media,” the report says. “Overall, more than 600 people were arrested and detained on or shortly after election day; 43 opposition leaders, activists and independent journalists were sentenced, including five out of nine opposition candidates.”

The UN commissioner says that the situation has further deteriorated, particularly as far as the rights to freedoms of association, assembly and expression, and the right to a fair trial are concerned.

“Allegations of torture and ill-treatment in custody, impunity of perpetrators, violations of due judicial process and pressure on defense lawyers persist,” the report reads. “The lack of an independent judiciary and a national human rights institution aggravate the human rights situation and impede progress.”

The report mentions legislative amendments that were adopted after the presidential election to establish criminal penalties for NGOs and political parties receiving foreign aid, tighten restrictions on demonstrations, and increase the government’s control over the Internet.

All the amendments were introduced in an “expedited manner – in two readings during one sitting – and were not available to the public in advance,” the report says.

Restrictions on the right to freedom of assembly continued beyond the events of December 19, 2010, it says. "The Government systematically refused to authorize peaceful demonstrations and rallies throughout 2011, including peaceful silent protests."

The commissioner also expresses concern about "numerous reports" that indicate that prison conditions, especially in pretrial detention centers, do not meet relevant international standards.

As for freedom of media, the report says that the Media Law, which came into force in 2008, is “restrictive by nature.” “Journalistic activities are controlled though various measures, such as television and radio censorship, surveillance of activities of independent journalists, and control over publishing houses,” it says. “Journalists from independent and opposition media are repeatedly prosecuted and convicted for their professional activities."

Commenting on the treatment of civil society, the report mentions “reprisal against the Belarusian Helsinki Committee for cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers,” the deportation of rights activists from the country, raids on the office of a rights group called Vyasna (Spring) and the sentencing of its leader, Ales Byalyatski.

Several lawyers defending opposition leaders arrested after the December 19, 2010 post-election protest have faced intimidation and threats, the report says.

The report also recalls that Belarus continues to be the only country in Europe that retains the death penalty for certain crimes, mentioning the execution of at least two persons in 2011 and the death penalty imposed on Dzmitry Kanavalaw and Uladzislaw Kavalyow in the subway bombing case.

The UN Human Rights Council should call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release remaining political opponents, activists and journalists who were not involved in any violence during the December 19, 2010 post-election protest and its aftermath; conduct an investigation into the circumstances in which the mentioned people were arrested and detained; conduct a comprehensive, transparent and credible investigation into all reported cases of torture and ill-treatment; put an immediate end to all forms of pressure on political opponents, civil society activists and journalists; and establish a moratorium on all executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, the UN high commissioner suggests. //BelaPAN