The UN group of independent experts on the situation of human rights in Belarus presented a report on Tuesday report It details how the country’s criminal justice system is being used as a weapon against dissent in government. The experts found violations of several international human rights treaties, including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and others. The report also reiterated previous findings that the Belarusian authorities had carried out a large-scale and systematic attack against a section of the civilian population. The experts concluded that the behavior amounted to crimes against humanity of persecution and imprisonment.
The report describes arbitrary arrests without charges. It notes that authorities arrest people “based on their real or perceived opposition to the government.” Those arrested included peaceful protesters, government critics on social media, trade unionists, lawyers and media workers.
The report also documents beatings and denial of access to counsel, as well as the detention of defendants in metal cages during court proceedings. Lawyers representing people facing politically motivated charges have also been disbarred, had their licenses revoked, or been arrested, according to the experts.
The report describes how officers placed a bag over an inmate’s head and tightened his handcuffs so that he was left with permanent scars. Another detainee reported that officers stretched his legs behind his back during an interrogation. A court gave a defendant 25 days to review 240 volumes, each 500 to 600 pages long, while the lawyer was not allowed to make copies. The report also describes forced video confessions.
In one separate account As the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna published, a former detainee said he was held in a two-person cell with ten people. He said when his parents called police to look for him, they were told he was not in custody. He also said that after his release, the police checked on him regularly and called his wife.
The Belarusian authorities did not cooperate with the experts’ investigation. The government has also failed to hold itself accountable, say the experts. The report concludes that the lack of accountability is a violation of the ICCPR, the CAT and others. Article 2 of the ICCPR requires states to respect and ensure their rights without discrimination based on, among other things, political or other opinions. It also requires that those whose rights are violated be provided with an effective remedy through “competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities.” CAT also contains similar provisions on remedies and competent authorities in Articles 12, 13 and 14.
Furthermore, CAT defines torture as “any act causing severe physical or mental pain or suffering,” done intentionally to obtain “information or a confession,” or as punishment or coercion. Article 2 of the CAT obliges the State to take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent torture. It does not provide for exceptions for war or other emergencies. Parties must criminalize torture and attempted torture in accordance with Article 4.
There are currently 886 Political prisoners in Belarus. Since the 2020 election, 4,815 people have been recognized as political prisoners. Since this election, the repression has increased many times over A report details the lack of civil liberties in Belarus.
