Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to discuss the situation of political prisoners in Belarus and international efforts to secure their release.
The parties discussed:
- the releases of political prisoners and the efforts supporting this process;
- the US humanitarian track;
- the condition of those released from prison and the needs of repressed individuals.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Humanitarian efforts by the United States must be supported and continued, but at the same time, a systemic change in the regime’s policies must be achieved”.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also emphasized the deportation that individuals released from prison often face. Many are deprived of documents and cannot return home. Released prisoners also face the threat of renewed persecution. She stressed that the international community must work not only for the release of individuals but also for a complete end to repression.
The parties also discussed UN communication with Minsk regarding the release of political prisoners and the possible visit of High Commissioner Türk to Belarus.
