'Catastrophic' human rights situation in Belarus - UN report

Belarus has been condemned by the Nations for its catastrophic human rights situation.

The report by the UN Human Rights Council was actually a follow-up to a previous report from September 2020, which had also highlighted serious concerns about the human rights situation in Belarus. The new report was based on information gathered between September 2020 and May 2021, and it found that the situation had continued to deteriorate.

Some of the specific human rights abuses that the report documented include:

• The use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment against detainees, including beatings, electric shocks, and sexual violence. The report noted that these abuses were often carried out with impunity, and that victims had little recourse to justice.
• The arbitrary arrest and detention of thousands of people, including journalists, opposition figures, and peaceful protesters. The report expressed concern about the use of administrative detention, which allows authorities to detain people for up to 30 days without charge or trial.
• Restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, including the targeting of independent media outlets and the use of excessive force to disperse peaceful protests. The report noted that these restrictions had intensified in the wake of the disputed presidential election in August 2020.
• Concerns about the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including reports of inadequate access to healthcare and the politicization of the pandemic response. The report also criticized the government's decision to hold an in-person Victory Day parade in May 2021, despite the high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The UN called on Belarus to immediately release all political prisoners and to take steps to address the human rights abuses. The Belarusian government has rejected the report, calling it politically motivated and accusing the UN of interfering in the country's internal affairs.