UN human rights report reveals political prisoners unsafe to return’ to Belarus

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 21st March. UN human rights report on Wednesday has revealed that the number of political prisoners is growing and a shutdown of civic space.

The people in Belarus are being deprived of their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and more.

The report builds on findings in the aftermath of large public protests which erupted in 2020 after a disputed presidential poll, focused on developments in 2023.

OHCHR said evidence gathered shows that the scale and pattern of violations has continued despite a lack of cooperation from Belarusian authorities.

Christian Salazar Volkmann, Director of Field Operations and Technical Cooperation at OHCHR briefed the Human Rights Council said “The Office has found that the cumulative effect of violations of freedom of expression, association and assembly since 1 May 2020 has closed independent civic space and effectively deprived people in Belarus of their ability to exercise these rights.”

He noted that no opposition party could even register for the parliamentary election held last month, raised concerns as Belarus approaches new presidential elections next year.

Laws adopted or amended since 2021 have led to the oppression and punishment of opposition voices while several prominent human rights defenders, journalists, and trade unionists have received long prison terms.

Thousands have been arbitrarily arrested and detained for exercising freedom of expression and assembly, some for actions dating back to 2020. Arrests have continued into 2024, the report stated.

It said that since 2020, thousands of Belarusians have suffered cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in detention facilities across the country.

Some cases of torture have resulted in severe injuries and sexual and gender-based violence.

UN rights office found violations of the right to life due to medical negligence and two recorded deaths in custody in 2024.

It expressed alarm over possible enforced disappearances of well-known opposition members who were facing politically-motivated charges.

Top officials urged authorities to provide information on their fate and whereabouts.

OHCHR found widespread arbitrary arrests of children after the protest with over 50 politically motivated criminal trials of individuals under 18 lacking protections guaranteed by international law.

The authorities have used a pretext of “socially dangerous situations” procedure to remove children from their parents, left some without care or in the custody of relatives or friends.

The report estimated up to 300,000 Belarusians have been forced to leave since May 2020 with the Government restricting rights of those in exile, including prevented passport issuance abroad and a policy of arresting returnees.

Mr. Volkmann said that “Reportedly, at least 207 persons were arrested in 2023 when returning to Belarus and arrests have continued in 2024. It is currently not safe for those in exile to return to Belarus,”.

He called on Member States to facilitate international refugee protection for those in exile.

The report said there are reasonable grounds to believe “the crime against humanity of persecution may have been committed”.

OHCHR has urged Belarus to release all arbitrarily detained individuals and end the ongoing rights violations and called on Member States to do all they can to bring Belarus into compliance with international law.