By Terance Walsh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
GENEVA, Switzerland — Navi Pillay, the United Nations’s human rights chief, called for Belarus to release its detained non-violent political opponents and allow the UN to visit Belarus on a human rights mission. The UN’s demands to Belarus come as concerns grow over the possible torture and violations of free speech perpetrated against political opponents.
Belarus’s treatment of political opponents has been an issue since the nation held its presidential elections in late 2010. Pillay stated that “the human rights situation significantly deteriorated after the December 19, 2010 presidential election.” Belarusian president, the incumbent candidate during the election, Alexander Lukashenko won the election by a landslide. The election was widely disputed as unfair both within the country and throughout Europe. The result sparked protests during which police beat peaceful protestors. Defendants in cases following the elections have reported physical and psychological torture and intimidation of defense lawyers. The UNHRC previously condemned Belarus’s crackdown on opposition in June.
“The authorities have reportedly tightened their already highly restrictive control of the media since December,” the report states. “The authorities have allegedly been conducting a policy of harassment against independent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and human rights defenders.”
Pillay’s report, most of which comes from secondary sources because UN human rights personnel are not allowed in the country, enumerates violations of “freedoms of association, assembly, conscience, speech, and right to a fair trial.” Furthermore, “Serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment in custody, impunity of perpetrators, violations of due judicial process, lack of independence of judges and pressure on defense lawyers require on-site investigation.”
Mikhail Kvostov, Belarus’s delegate, defended Belarus’s position on the crackdown. Specifically he denies Europe’s classification of post-election protests as “peaceful.” He stated that the European community considered the raiding of buildings to be peaceful while Belarus maintains that such behavior is criminal. Kvostov dismissed the UN’s report as politically motivated and stated that such criticism was not the right approach for dealing with Belarus.
Lukashenko has been in office for seventeen years following his election in 1994. Last month the Belarusian Parliament introduced a bill that would outlaw “silent protests,” including protests consisting of large groups of people who do nothing. Earlier this year a Minsk city court sentenced two former presidential candidates for organizing protests after the reelection. Lukashenko has made efforts to strengthen ties from the west but his regime has traditionally been criticized by the United States Department of State and the UN.
For more information please see:
JURIST — UN Rights Chief Urges Belarus to Release Political Prisoners — 21 September 2011
The Echo — UN Human Rights Officials Call On Belarus to Immediately Release Political Prisoners — 21 September 2011
Expatica — UN Rights Chief Wants Access to Belarus — 20 September 2011
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — UN Human Rights Chief Wants Access to Belarus — 20 September 2011
UN News Centre — Citing Reported Abuses, UN Rights Officials Call On Belarus to Free Political Detainees — 20 September 2011
