Belarus using justice system to silence Lukashenko critics, say UN experts
Belarusian state institutions have worked together to repress critics of President Alexander Lukashenko's government through every stage of the justice system since 2020, including arrests, imprisonment and surveillance, U.N. experts said on Tuesday.
The United Nations has accused Belarusian authorities of using the justice system to silence critics of President Alexander Lukashenko since 2020, according to a report presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The report, prepared by a three-member panel of independent experts, alleges coordinated repression by courts, police, security services, prosecutors, and prison authorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, denial of legal safeguards, and closed trials.
The experts found that such violations continue to this day, and Belarus is responsible for multiple international treaty violations. The report echoes earlier findings that some abuses committed since May 2020 could amount to crimes against humanity, including persecution and imprisonment. The Belarus mission to the Geneva-based Council did not respond to requests for comment.
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