On March 19, the UN Human Rights Council highlighted the situation in Belarus as a matter requiring its attention yet again. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Belarus presented its latest report, emphasizing the following findings:
- The mission identified new evidence of crimes against humanity.
- Violence against protesters after the 2020 election was a continuation of years of repressive policies.
- Arbitrary detentions, often involving torture or inhumane treatment, remain a primary tool for suppressing dissent.
- Political prisoners face harsher conditions of detention aimed at punishment and humiliation.
- Repression forces Belarusians into exile, where they still face persecution through in-absentia criminal cases.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau: “This UN report is not just another confirmation of Lukashenka’s crimes but a basis for further international action. Belarus remains in the global spotlight, and our joint efforts help document the truth, counter attempts to legitimize repression, and prove that what is happening is a crime – not the new normal”.
Tomorrow, a side event titled “Give a Voice to the Victims: Examining the Widespread Human Rights Violations in Belarus” will take place in Geneva. Organized by the permanent missions of Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and Poland and co-sponsored by the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva, the event will focus on widespread human rights abuses, including repression against civil society, political activists, and independent media. The discussion will emphasize the need for accountability and stronger international pressure on the regime.
📷 Photo: Johannes Simon/Getty Images
