The 57th regular session of the Human Rights Council was held from September 9 to October 11, 2024. On September 23, the session reviewed an interim report on the activities of the Independent Expert Group on Belarus.
Karina Moskalenko, Chairperson of the Independent Expert Group on Belarus, presented the Group’s findings during the session. In her speech, she highlighted the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus. She emphasized the widespread repression against civil society and political dissidents, many of whom face arbitrary detention, torture, and inhumane treatment. Moskalenko noted that the Belarusian government continues to persecute opposition groups, independent media, and human rights organizations using tactics such as forced liquidation, labeling civil groups as "extremist organizations," and prosecuting their members.
Furthermore, she drew attention to the harsh conditions that political prisoners endure, including inadequate medical care, a lack of proper legal procedures, and numerous cases of death in custody. Repression has transcended geographical boundaries, as many political emigrants remain subject to persecution. The report also underscores the ongoing lack of accountability for these human rights violations and calls for international efforts to address the situation.
Moskalenko emphasized the issue of attorneys being stripped of their licenses as part of the government’s campaign against independent civil society. Attorneys representing political prisoners or expressing dissent are often persecuted by the authorities. She pointed out that many attorneys have been disbarred or prosecuted merely for defending individuals who criticize the regime, undermining not only the rights of attorneys but also citizens' rights to a fair trial and access to justice in Belarus.
Moskalenko stressed that disbarment is just one of many tactics the government employs to suppress dissent, further constricting the already limited space for human rights protection in the country.
In response to the report’s findings, Belarus’ official representative, Larisa Belskaya, did not attempt to dispute the factual content of the report. She expressed no disagreement with the existence of a campaign to persecute the opposition in the country. Instead, Belskaya justified this by claiming that the individuals involved are "extremists who vainly try to dismantle the Belarusian state," aligning with official government policy. She criticized the "Western approach" to assessing the human rights situation in Belarus and lamented what she described as "interference in the internal affairs" of the state. Belskaya stated that the information in the report was "one-sided," while Moskalenko highlighted the official Minsk's unwillingness to engage and cooperate with international experts.
Support for the report and democratic reforms was expressed by representatives from the following states:
Support for the Belarusian authorities was expressed by representatives of the following states:
In the speeches of representatives of this bloc of states, the logic noted by our project at the previous session was generally present: criticism of Belarus’ actions is interference in the internal affairs of the country. For example, Sri Lanka added to the common rhetoric the argument about "financial resources" allocated to the creation of reports that "should be spent on situations requiring more urgent intervention". Mr. Pan Kwang Ho, representing North Korea, expressed resolute support for Belarus, focusing on the same "respect for the country's sovereignty and its right to self-determination". Similar messages were present in the speeches of representatives of China, Russia, Eritrea, and others.
A neutral position was also expressed (representatives of these states "took note" of the report of the Group and declared the need to remember cooperation on human rights issues while respecting the sovereignty of the state):
Karina Moskalenko, Chairperson of the Independent Expert Group on Belarus, presented the Group’s findings during the session. In her speech, she highlighted the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus. She emphasized the widespread repression against civil society and political dissidents, many of whom face arbitrary detention, torture, and inhumane treatment. Moskalenko noted that the Belarusian government continues to persecute opposition groups, independent media, and human rights organizations using tactics such as forced liquidation, labeling civil groups as "extremist organizations," and prosecuting their members.
Furthermore, she drew attention to the harsh conditions that political prisoners endure, including inadequate medical care, a lack of proper legal procedures, and numerous cases of death in custody. Repression has transcended geographical boundaries, as many political emigrants remain subject to persecution. The report also underscores the ongoing lack of accountability for these human rights violations and calls for international efforts to address the situation.
Moskalenko emphasized the issue of attorneys being stripped of their licenses as part of the government’s campaign against independent civil society. Attorneys representing political prisoners or expressing dissent are often persecuted by the authorities. She pointed out that many attorneys have been disbarred or prosecuted merely for defending individuals who criticize the regime, undermining not only the rights of attorneys but also citizens' rights to a fair trial and access to justice in Belarus.
Moskalenko stressed that disbarment is just one of many tactics the government employs to suppress dissent, further constricting the already limited space for human rights protection in the country.
In response to the report’s findings, Belarus’ official representative, Larisa Belskaya, did not attempt to dispute the factual content of the report. She expressed no disagreement with the existence of a campaign to persecute the opposition in the country. Instead, Belskaya justified this by claiming that the individuals involved are "extremists who vainly try to dismantle the Belarusian state," aligning with official government policy. She criticized the "Western approach" to assessing the human rights situation in Belarus and lamented what she described as "interference in the internal affairs" of the state. Belskaya stated that the information in the report was "one-sided," while Moskalenko highlighted the official Minsk's unwillingness to engage and cooperate with international experts.
Support for the report and democratic reforms was expressed by representatives from the following states:
- Finland
- European Union
- Luxembourg
- Switzerland
- Liechtenstein
- Poland
- Czech Republic
- Germany
- Ireland
- United States of America
- Austria
- France
- Republic of Moldova
- Spain
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Romania
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Montenegro
- Greece
- Ukraine
- Slovakia
Support for the Belarusian authorities was expressed by representatives of the following states:
- Sri Lanka
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Eritrea
- Russian Federation
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Zimbabwe
- Venezuela
- China
- Nicaragua
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Cuba
- Sudan
- Iran
In the speeches of representatives of this bloc of states, the logic noted by our project at the previous session was generally present: criticism of Belarus’ actions is interference in the internal affairs of the country. For example, Sri Lanka added to the common rhetoric the argument about "financial resources" allocated to the creation of reports that "should be spent on situations requiring more urgent intervention". Mr. Pan Kwang Ho, representing North Korea, expressed resolute support for Belarus, focusing on the same "respect for the country's sovereignty and its right to self-determination". Similar messages were present in the speeches of representatives of China, Russia, Eritrea, and others.
A neutral position was also expressed (representatives of these states "took note" of the report of the Group and declared the need to remember cooperation on human rights issues while respecting the sovereignty of the state):
- Azerbaijan
- Kazakhstan
- Egypt
