According to the UN Human Rights Office, there are signs of crimes against humanity in Belarus. The Geneva-based office released a report on the situation in the country on Friday. The study covers the period from May 2020 to December 2022. The situation has worsened since then, spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in Geneva.
As of March 17, nearly 1,500 people in Belarus were behind bars on political charges, according to the report. By February, nearly 800 non-governmental organizations had been closed.
Crimes against humanity, for example, include violent death and torture, as well as the inhuman treatment of prisoners. The campaign of violence is said to mainly target critics of the government.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has criticized impunity and the almost complete destruction of civil space and fundamental freedoms in Belarus. “The government owes it to its people to end these massive crackdowns and conduct impartial and transparent investigations to ensure those responsible for serious crimes are brought to justice,” he said.
The office interviewed 207 victims and witnesses and analyzed more than 2,500 photos, videos and medical reports, as well as court documents, to prepare the report. Violence against protesters, arbitrary arrests, sexual assaults and trials without adequate defense have been documented. The law enforcement system is said to be used to persecute journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, labor activists and lawyers.
Source: The Delfi
