Brussels, 4 July 2024
The EU takes note of the release of a number of political prisoners in Belarus. We are relieved by the news that they finally reunited with their families and loved ones.
There are still more than 1400 political prisoners in Belarus, including prisoners without any possibility to communicate with those outside for indefinite periods of time, with serious health issues, disabilities, over the age of 60, minors and people with mental illnesses. Some of these detainees require urgent medical assistance and have life threatening conditions.
The EU urges the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.
Source – EEAS
Belarus: UN Call for release of older political prisoners
Geneva, 2 July 2024
UN experts* today urged the Belarusian authorities to pardon or remit the sentence of all imprisoned older persons jailed on political charges.
The independent experts have received a list of 63 persons aged over 60, including 15 women, who are deprived of liberty in Belarus for real or suspected political opposition. Most are serving prison sentences of up to 25 years, some are detained in pretrial detention, and some have been subjected to compulsory psychiatric care. Several detainees suffer chronic diseases, acute or grave illnesses, and some are persons with disabilities. Three prisoners aged over 60 are reportedly held incommunicado.
Some of these older persons are also included in official lists of extremists or terrorists. “These lists are notorious for including members of the political opposition and human rights defenders,” they said.
“According to various sources, inmates who have been included in these lists are submitted to various forms of ill-treatment, including incommunicado detentions and denial of prompt and adequate medical care, as well as to restrictions on correspondence and money transfers”, the mandate holders said. “One of these detainees, who is 67 years old, has been held incommunicado since February 2023 and may be a victim of an enforced disappearance.”
On 20 June 2024, the Belarusian parliament adopted a law proposing amnesty for those of pension age (63 years for men and 58 years for women). “However, the amnesty would not apply to prisoners convicted for offences such as gross violation of public order, actions aimed at harming national security, creation of and participation in an extremist formation, slander against the President or discrediting Belarus – which are frequently misused for politically motivated prosecutions.” The amnesty would also not apply to prisoners included in the lists of persons involved in terrorist and extremist activities.
The experts said they have pointed to the incompatibility of the Belarusian legal framework of countering terrorism and extremism with international human rights law and to its frequent abuse for persecuting political opponents, civil society activists, journalists and human rights advocates.
“We reiterate our call for Belarus to bring its legislation into compliance with its international obligations and to release all persons unfairly convicted for the legitimate exercise of their human rights, such as the freedom of speech, association and assembly.”
They also called for the prohibition of discrimination based on political opinion and extension of amnesty to all older persons imprisoned on political charges.
The experts have been in touch with the Belarusian Government on this issue.
*The experts:
Anaïs Marin, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus;
Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences;
Cecilia M Bailliet, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity;
Aua Baldé (Chair-Rapporteur),
Gabriella Citroni (Vice-Chair),
Grażyna Baranowska,
Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez and
Angkhana Neelapaijit, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances;
Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
Matthew Gillett (Chair),
Ganna Yudkivska (Vice-Chair on Communications),
Priya Gopalan (Vice-Chair on Follow-Up),
Miriam Estrada-Castillo and Mumba Malila, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;
Dorothy Estrada Tanck (Chair),
Laura Nyirinkindi (Vice-Chair),
Claudia Flores,
Ivana Krstić, and
Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls;
Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons;
Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;
Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association;
Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.
The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
For additional information and media requests please contact: hrc-sr-belarus@un.org.
For media enquiries regarding other UN independent experts, please contact Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) or John Newland (john.newland@un.org)
Further information:
Source – United Nations – OHCHR