On 23 October the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst was presented. “Belarus is not mentioned in the report, it only describes the general situation with human rights defenders around the world. The report was presented in the format of interactive dialogue. This means that after it the representatives of States could comment on it and ask questions. The representative of Belarus asked what measures the special rapporteur is going to take to combat the abusive practice of human rights defenders, that are in a speculative way under the guise of protection of victims of peaceful assembly right violations, they protect persons engaged in activities against the rule of law “, – said the representative of Human Rights Center “Viasna ” and the Belarusian Human Rights House Tatsiana Raviaka, who takes part in the event.

The Special Rapporteur said that with his further actions will be able to answer all the questions.

Tatsiana Raviaka (left) commented the official report of the representative of the Belarusian State: “I think that the representative of Belarus is ruling by the common position of the Belarusian authorities against people who suffer from prosecution for trying to exercise their rights: they are represented by the State like common criminals. And when human rights defenders are presenting them from the other position, it turns out that, according to the authorities, they are just speculating. Here we can say about the substitution of notions, which the Belarusian authorities use in order to look better in the eyes of the international community.”

On 24 October in New York a side event was held with the participation of the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on Belarus and human rights defenders themselves.Report on the situation in Belarus will be presented on 28 October by Miklós Haraszti.

The delegation of Belarus claimed that human rights are used for speculation and pressure. “During the interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the delegation of Belarus claimed that human rights are used for speculation and pressure on the country and urged the Commissioner to “establish order in the Human Rights Council.” The delegation accused the Council in the absence of interest in the consensus approach that, according to it, “undermines the credibility of the Human Rights Council.” It confirmed the rejection of the mandate of the special rapporteur in country and the rejection of cooperation, “- said Tatsiana Raviaka. “

“The position of the official Minsk is not new; it was announced immediately after the introduction of the mandate in 2012. And during this time (the mandate has already been extended twice), the Belarusian authorities support it. Belarusian authorities support electivity position: they want to choose with whom to cooperate or not, and the attitude of the country to the rapporteur just confirms this position.”

Miklós Haraszti in his report called on the Belarusian authorities to release immediately all political prisoners and to ensure the full rehabilitation of their civil and political rights.

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