The statement expressed deep concern about the human rights violations after the 19 December events, which cover the use of force against the participants of peaceful protests and detention and conviction of political opponents. Special attention was given to information about intimidation of lawyers and allegations of torture of detainees.
45 countries advising
The authors of the statement urged Belarusian authorities to release and exonerate immediately all 19 December political detainees. The statement also advices to stop prosecution of independent mass-media, civil activists and human rights defenders as well as to observe the freedom of assembly and association, and freedom of speech.
Belarusian authorities are also advised to co-operate to the full extent with the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Human Rights Council, as well as to reconsider the decision concerning the closure of OSCE office and to collaborate with its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The statement reminds the Belarusian government about the proposal which has been sent to Belarus on 18 February, which suggested to hold a briefing in the Human Rights Council regarding the situation in the country. It also expresses hope for a positive response.
“Look at yourself” reply
In the letter of response, the Belarusian representatives stated: “We do not consider necessary to comment the unsubstantiated accusations included in that statement.” The Belarusian side rejected the briefing proposal and blamed the authors of the latter for “double-standard” policy, as signatory countries “have themselves quite a bit of actual issues in the context of human rights”.
The Belarusian representatives also stated that 19 December protests were not a peaceful association but had been accompanied by violence and riots, thus the country’s authorities consider their action as lawful and appropriate.
The joint statement was called “unfounded and politically motivated”, which, according to the Belarusian side, is contradicting the rules that the Council should be based on.
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The statement was adopted soon after the visit of the Belarusian and international human rights defenders to Geneva, who brought first hand information about the situation in Belarus to the UN representatives. The visit took place thanks to the support of the Human Rights House Foundation and other influential international organisations.
On 19 December 2010, thousands of people came to the Independence Square in Minsk to protest against the rigged presidential elections, traditionally ‘won’ by the authoritarian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka with about 80 per cent of the vote. In what was called riots, six windows were smashed by unidentified protesters. During a violent dispersal of the rally, many people were injured by the police, hundreds imprisoned, with dozens facing criminal terms in jail just for expressing their opinion.
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