Belarusian authorities ignore UNO recommendations

The most fundamental recommendations concerning human rights have not been accepted.

Belarusian delegation named recommendations on abolition of Article 193-1, reforming of electoral legislation, improvement of activities conditions of nongovernmental organizations and Mass Media, as well as abolition of capital punishment unacceptable.

Final document on Belarus within the frameworks of the Universal Periodic Review is stated for September, 23 at the 15-th session of UN Human Rights Council. However, the Belarusian delegation has not accepted the majority of the fundamental recommendations, “Euroradio” reports.

“A number of recommendations on revision of legislation in the sphere of Mass Media, elections and associations have arrived. National legislation in this sphere corresponds fully to international obligations of Belarus... at this stage we are intended to concentrate on law-enforcement practice... The suggestion about revision of the legislation in the sphere of activities of nongovernmental organizations is ungrounded”, - the chairman of the UN Permanent Commission Mikhail Khvastou stated.

At the same time he noted that in spite of non-acceptance of these recommendations, they will remain “within eyesight” of Belarusian authorities.

The representatives of Egypt, Cuba, Algeria, Uzbekistan, and China were satisfied with the review of Belarus and said no word of critic about the progress in the sphere of political and civil rights.

Speeches of nongovernmental organizations differed by their content. The representative of CIVICUS noted with regret, that the position of the Belarusian delegation in the interactive dialog had in greater part formal and unconstructive character.

“With greater regret we perceived the fact that Belarus refused to accept recommendations of foreign governments on most fundamental issues. They are: abolition of capital punishment or, at least, introduction of moratorium, ensuring freedom of assembly and associations, simplifying the registration procedures for nongovernmental organizations and political parties, abolition of Article 193-1 (abolition of criminal responsibility for participation in unregistered organizations)”, - CIVICUS representative stated.

Belarusian delegation accepted technically more than 75 out of 93 recommendations voiced by foreign governments. But most of the accepted recommendations bear broad and indistinct wording, like “to continue efforts on education in the sphere of human rights” and “further dialog among religions”.

Recommendations concerning most fundamental spheres, in which the international community calls upon the government of Belarus to conduct reforms, remained unaccepted.