Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 3rd July. UN human rights experts on Tuesday called on Belarusian authorities to pardon or remit the sentences of older persons imprisoned on political charges.
The experts in a press release issued by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus said they received a list of 63 persons aged over 60, including 15 women, imprisoned for “real or suspected political opposition.”
It noted most are serving sentences up to 25 years, some are in pretrial detention and others face compulsory psychiatric care. Several detainees suffer from chronic diseases, acute illnesses, or disabilities.
“According to various sources, inmates who have been included in these lists are submitted to various forms of ill-treatment, including incommunicado detentions and denial of prompt and adequate medical care, as well as to restrictions on correspondence and money transfers,” the experts said.
According to the OHCHR, Belarusian parliament proposed amnesty for those of pension age but it would not apply to prisoners convicted of offences like gross violation of public order, harming national security, slander against the President or discrediting Belarus.
“Which are frequently misused for politically motivated prosecutions,” the experts noted.
They pointed to the incompatibility of Belarusian counter terrorism and extremism laws with international human rights law.
The experts reiterated their call for Belarus to comply with its international obligations and release all persons unfairly convicted for exercising their human rights.
Special Procedures, the Special Rapporteurs are mandated to monitor and report on country or thematic human rights situations.
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