Europe’s last authoritarian states retain control and undermine democratic developments

NHC statement pays attention to the last authoritarian states in Europe and compares them to Middle East and North Africa countries:

Europe’s authoritarians successful in retaining control
In these exceptional times – when authoritarian regimes are falling or are under serious pressure by democratic forces in the Middle East and North Africa – we witness that Europe’s last authoritarian states are successful in retaining control and undermining democratic developments.

On 19 December 2010 riot police brutally dispersed and arrested hundreds of anti-government protesters in Minsk, Belarus. This was just the beginning of a massive campaign of arrests of opposition politicians, including presidential candidates, journalists, and human rights defenders in an attempt to silence and pacify those critical of the current regime, led by President Alexander Lukashenko.

In a worrying development, opposition forces and civil society are being targeted in the investigation of the deadly 11 April 2011 bomb attack in Minsk.

In Azerbaijan, democratic forces, journalists and human rights defenders are under severe pressure in order for the regime led by President Ilham Aliyev to retain control.

On several occasions in March and April 2011, anti-government rallies in Baku have been met by brutal riot police dispersing the rallies and arresting dozens. The country has recently experienced a wave of arrests of youth activists and bloggers, and defies requests from the Council of Europe to release imprisoned editor Eynullah Fattulayev.

In Russia, the regime’s democratic credentials remain low ahead of Duma elections this year and Presidential elections next year. Russia’s democratic gains after independence in 1991 have effectively been rolled back by a set of measures designed to increase the control of the Kremlin, including over media and other key institutions.

At the same time corruption, impunity and endemic human rights problems undermine development and rule of law in the country.

Recommendations
According to NHC, the international community, and in particular European states and institutions, must face up to these challenges by:

– Speaking out forcefully against recent trends of authoritarianism in Azerbaijan, Belarus and Russia, underlining that Europe is committed to democracy and human rights;

– Demanding concrete steps to eradicate repression and free political prisoners;

– Demanding that the countries abide by commitments and obligations as members of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UN. By not reacting to non-compliance, other members states become complicit in undermining respect for democracy and human rights.

Human rights prevail, authoritarian regimes do not
In its annual report NHC focuses on Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and human rights globally.

Secretary General of NHC, Bjørn Engesland, says that important values have become the topic of a considerable struggle in the world, and the level of conflict has risen.

“Many see this particular question as legitimate – whether human rights are indeed universal. A regional slide in the global power balance is taking place, and alongside countries like Russia, China especially has increased its global importance, positioning itself as a country able to combine economic growth with heavy-handed government control and little or no respect for democracy and basic human rights. The growth of authoritarian capitalism threatens the protection of international human rights, while also establishing itself as a model for other countries, “says Engesland.

Human rights’ pendulum
According to him, it is not clear where the pendulum will swing – in the direction of universally applicable human rights across borders, or towards a backlash in the direction of the absolute and sovereign position of the national state. Developments in North Africa and the Middle East over the past few months may have given a few answers as to which direction that pendulum is swinging.

“Countries that were long considered stagnant, characterised by a lack of development and oppressive regimes, have shown a strong potential for rebellion and change. Events of the past three months prove that the ideas of freedom, democracy and respect for basic human rights are indeed universal, “he adds.

Engesland, right, also notices that events in North Africa at the beginning of this year have shown one thing: In the long run, human rights prevail, authoritarian regimes do not. According to him, this should also be realised by Western leaders, who should no longer silently accept human rights violations in the interest of short-term economic or security gains.

“We hope that those brave human rights defenders in Belarus, Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan do not have to wait too long for what is rightfully theirs, “remarks Engesland.

Here you can find the statement, here – the NHC annual report.

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