UN Human Rights Council 47: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus
The UK's Ambassador to the UN and WTO in Geneva, Simon Manley, delivered this statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus.
Madam President,
I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for her report on the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus and pay tribute to the courage shown by the Belarusian people.
The report’s concerns about arbitrary arrests and detentions have been brought into sharp relief by the Belarusian authorities’ outrageous forced landing of a civilian airliner and arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich, who has since been forced to appear twice in staged public events. These actions directly violate human rights. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Protasevich and all those others held on political grounds.
The reported closure of the OHCHR office in Minsk represents a grave step backwards in engagement with the international community.
Lukashenko must cease his brutal campaign of repression; release all political detainees; and engage in dialogue with civil society and opposition figures to seek a peaceful solution to the ongoing political crisis. For our part, we have increased support to civil society and independent media; and we will support international mechanisms to investigate human rights violations and we will implement sanctions against those responsible for such violations.
I would like to ask the Special Rapporteur to elaborate on her assistance to the High Commissioner in her evidence gathering mission.
Thank you.