Human rights violations in Belarus discussed by UN

The UN Human Rights Council considered the situation in Belarus. Both official and independent Belarusian delegations took part in the hearing.

A report on Belarus was presented at a session of the Universal Periodic review working group in Geneva.

The official Belarusian delegation, led by Mikhail Khvastou, the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN office and other international organizations at Geneva, presented its report, Radio Svaboda informs.

Some Belarusian NGOs (Viasna, Assembly of NGOs, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian Abscission of Journalists) prepared an alternative report proposing about 50 recommendations to improve the human rights situation in Belarus.

According to leader of Viasna (Spring) human rights center Ales Byalyatski, delegates of most countries focused on abolition of death penalty in Belarus. The countries demanded to impose moratorium and then abolish the capital punishment.

Cancelling article 193.1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (activity on behalf of an unregistered organization) also drew much attention. The countries demanded to give more freedom of assembly, meetings, the right of association and forming NGOs.

“The Belarusian delegation preferred to keep silence in response. For example, they didn’t say anything about the disappeared opposition leaders, though some countries reminded that the Belarusian authorities should solve this problem in Belarus,” Ales Byalyatski noted.

No response was given to a notice about changes in the criminal code regarding article 193.1.

“As for the death penalty, Mikhail Khvastou said there had been a referendum and the Belarusians should respect its results. He said a special commission had been formed and consultations had begun,” Ales Byalyatski said.

“Though the procedure was formal to a large extent, it as first time the questions, we have been speaking for such a long time in the international arena, have been raised,” the head of Viasna human rights center noted.

The human rights NGOs held a briefing regarding article 193.1

“We told how this article works in our country. Some international delegates were shocked, as this article is a rare thing. Even among the post-Soviet countries only Turkmenistan has a similar article,” Ales Byalyatski told.

“A necessity of further electoral reform was also given due attention. Even a Turkish delegation said they ha d information about violations of the electoral legislation of Belarus during the recent local council elections. Turkey recommended going on reforming the electoral legislation.

A problem of political disappearance was also discussed. In particular, the delegations of France and the Netherlands, said about a necessity to investigate the situation with the missing people in Belarus.

An opinion sounded that Belarus should sign Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, as the facts of tortures have been recorded in the country.

The French delegation focused on political prisoners in Belarus and called to stop this practice.

Delegates, in particular representatives of the Czech Republic and Poland, also made claims to the Belarusian authorities over the freedom of assembly.

Mikhail Khvastou failed to give clear answers to the claims.

“In his answers, he turned his attention to the problems of the death penalty, peaceful demonstrations, tortures, freedom of association and freedom of the media. He either evaded direct questions of the national delegations or told untruth,” Ales Byalyatski notes. “In particular, he said about the freedom of associations that the country doesn’t have problems in this are and al associations can be registered. Khvastou also said there are no problems of the freedom of the media. I can quote him: “Belarus is among the world leaders of Internet freedom.” It was especially funny to hear in the context of the new law on Internet regulation they wanted to adopt.”