On July 2, a side event took place in Geneva, focused on the critical human rights situation in Belarus. The meeting, organized by Lithuania and Latvia, featured Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau. Participants emphasized the persecution of political prisoners, journalists, activists, and the increasing use of transnational repression.
The following points were highlighted during the event:
- The regime in Belarus holds over 1,200 political prisoners; at least 10 are kept incommunicado.
- The regime increasingly uses trials in absentia and international arrest warrants to intimidate Belarusians in exile.
- Independent media and civil society organizations are being dismantled: the regime has liquidated at least 1,186 organizations, and dozens of journalists have been convicted or declared wanted.
- UN Special Rapporteur Nils Muižnieks emphasized that there has been no improvement in civil and political rights.
Leonid Marozau: “We urge democratic countries and UN bodies to continue supporting the work of independent experts and use all available accountability mechanisms to stop the violence and impunity. Repression is no longer confined to the territory of Belarus. It has taken on a transnational dimension and poses a threat to the safety of Belarusians both in Europe and beyond”.
In addition, Mr. Marozau held a meeting with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, where he discussed the situation of political prisoners and possible ways to secure their release. He specifically drew attention to the case of Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, who remains imprisoned.
Leonid Marozau called for supporting all those facing repression and expressed gratitude to partners for their solidarity.
