Khvostov tells UN blatant lie

“Belarus is a democratic country. We are not obliged to take an examination in democracy. The situation of democracy in our country is in many aspects better than that in European countries,” the official said.

This remark was made by Mikahil Khvostov, the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations, during a debate over the report on Belarus at a session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 27, BelaPAN reports.

“The EU countries, which will take the floor today, will state the situation in Belarus deteriorated. However, none of them will say the situation in their countries or in the EU improved,” Kvostov said.

He said Belarus had invited the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Belarus and provided her with the necessary materials over the issue.

Khvosotv said the report on the situation in Belarus, presented at the session by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights  Navanethem Pillay was unacceptable for Belarus “both from the legal and informative points of view as having no relation to the human right theme”.

“The report gives a biased vision of the events on December 19, 2010, and in the post-election period,” Khvostov said. “Nothing was said that certain presidential candidates had made a coup attempt near the House of Government. The report doesn't say a word about it and describes it as a misdemeanour.”

“In spite of the threat to the constitutional system, police didn't use water cannons, rubber bullets and batons. All people detained were tried and trials were open,” Khvostov added.

He called the report on Belarus “an example of the worst practice of preparing documents by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights”.