Miklos Haraszti: Oppressive Nature Of Belarus’ Regime Has Not Changed

The Special Rapporteur on Belarus has submitted his fourth report on the human rights situation in the country.

On June 21, an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus, Miklos Haraszti was held at the 32nd regular session of the Human Rights Council, the HRC Viasna informs.

During the meeting, the Special Rapporteur on Belarus submitted his fourth report on the human rights situation in the country.

“Since the introduction of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus’ human rights situation following the violent suppression of protests in December 2010, the oppressive nature of the regime in Belarus has not changed,” – he said.

Also, Miklos Haraszti said that violations continued even after the completion of his work on the report and its submission in April this year.

“Several generations of people have grown up in Belarus, who do not know, what such words as “pluralism,” “freedom of artistic creativity,” “freedom of the media,” “workers' rights” and “free business activity” actually mean, or do not have experience of using them,” – the UN Special Rapporteur said.

“My findings underline the need to maintain the current level of the United Nations control on Belarus’ implementation of its obligations in the field of human rights, particularly in the light of the upcoming parliamentary elections. I reiterate my call on the authorities to cooperate with the mandate,” – Miklos Haraszti noted.

Haraszti concluded his speech by paying tribute to the civil society organizations and the Belarusian human rights defenders, who “fortunately do not give up and continue to work in Belarus, despite the often repressive environment.”