March 17, 2023
Cited article by Reuters
HRRC calls on the Belarusian government to investigate the allegations of systematic abuses reported by the United Nations. The targeting and mistreatment of protestors directly infringes on their rights to freedom of speech and assembly, as well as creates distrust in the newly established government.
Article Summary
Experts at the UN have accused Belarus of committing systematic abuses. These include the repression of protestors and dissidents that could amount to crimes against humanity. The report was issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and specifically focused on the events leading up to the presidential election on August 9, 2020, and the following crackdowns that ensued.
The report states that security forces used excessive force and engaged in torture and arbitrary arrests. The report elaborates that these abuses appear to have been committed as a way to repress those critical of the Belarus government. Lukashenko was elected president in 2020, and hundreds were detained and beaten while other countries speculated that the election was fraudulent.