UN denounces Belarus for crimes against humanity

“Our report paints an unacceptable picture of impunity and almost total destruction of civic space and fundamental freedoms in Belarus,” said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Human rights violations “appear to be part of a campaign of violence and repression intentionally directed against those who opposed – or were seen in this way – the government or expressed critical opinions”, indicates the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, published this Friday.

“Some of these violations may constitute crimes against humanity,” the document continues.

The report, which covers the period from May 1 to December 31, 2022, and documents “widespread and systematic violations of international human rights standards, including the unlawful deprivation of life and numerous cases of arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture and -treatment, as well as sexual and gender-based violence, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association and the denial of due procedural guarantees and equal protection of the law”, said Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for the High Commission, during a UN press conference in Geneva.

Persecution of journalists

The Belarusian court sentenced two directors of the independent news portal to 12 years in prison Tut.by, which was closed after the site published news about demonstrations against Alexander Lukashenko's regime.

According to human rights organization Viasna, the process took place behind closed doors. “The portal's former chief editor Marina Zolotova and former general director Lyudmila Chekina were sentenced to 12 years in prison,” the NGO said.

(Source: AFP)

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