A recent report from independent experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council has unveiled that Belarusian authorities are engaged in widespread human rights violations, some constituting crimes against humanity, as they strive to suppress political opposition. The Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus was created in 2024 to investigate breaches that emerged post-2020 elections, where President Alexander Lukashenko secured a contested sixth term, and to propose pathways for accountability.
Since its inception last year with a renewable mandate, this group works voluntarily and independently of any government or UN staff. Their recent findings, shared with the Council, highlight troubling evidence of arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual violence, and the persecution of dissenters, particularly targeting LGBTQIA+ individuals, political activists, and journalists. These abuses are framed as part of a larger, intentional campaign against civilians critical of the regime.
The experts describe a climate of fear, noting that detainees are often arrested on politically motivated charges and exposed to harsh treatment—including excessive force, violence, and threats against their families. Victims recount experiences of severe beatings, electric shocks, and sexual assault, signalling a brutal method of maintaining control and compliance.
Particularly harrowing are the accounts of torture in detention facilities, where individuals face overcrowding, lack of hygiene, and inadequate medical care. Survivors report being coerced into making false confessions in ‘repentance videos,’ suffering both physical and psychological torment. The violence extends to LGBTQIA+ individuals, showcasing a deeply entrenched homophobic culture within state enforcement.
The campaign of repression does not halt at Belarus’s borders; many opposition figures face prosecution in absentia, with properties seized and family members subjected to intimidation. This orchestrated violence targets all perceived critics of the government, fostering a pervasive environment of fear—even among those living abroad.
Conclusively, the experts assert that the systematic violations in Belarus, characterised by imprisonment and torture for political dissent, amount to crimes against humanity. They stress that urgent action for accountability is necessary, advocating for the identification and prosecution of those responsible to break the cycle of impunity and restore justice for victims.
The UN Human Rights Council’s independent experts reported widespread human rights violations in Belarus, some considered crimes against humanity, as part of a systematic effort to silence political opposition. Documented abuses include arbitrary arrests, torture, and targeted violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals. The experts emphasize the critical need for accountability to combat the entrenched culture of impunity in Belarus.
The findings by the independent experts starkly illustrate the grim reality in Belarus, where systematic human rights violations serve to repress dissent. Their documentation of torture, arbitrary imprisonment, and targeted attacks against specific groups reveals a ruthless campaign against all critical voices. The urgent call for accountability underscores the need for justice, not only for the victims but for the integrity of human rights principles themselves.
Original Source: news.un.org
