A DATABASE of Political and Legal Responses to Human Rights Violations in Belarus: Global, Regional and National Perspectives.
БАЗА ДАННЫХ политических и правовых мер реагирования на нарушения прав человека в Беларуси: глобальные, региональные и национальные перспективы.
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United Nations |
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Human Rights Council |
2023 |
Resolution: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath A/HRC/RES/52/29 Adopted on 4 April 2023 Subject(s) covered: - impunity and lack of accountability for human rights violations committed in Belarus - political prisoners and arbitrary detention, - inhumane detention conditions - politically motivated repression against independent media and civil society - electoral rights and obligations - interference with civilian flight in Belarusian airspace in May 2021 is a serious violation of the Convention on International Civil Aviation - documentation of human rights violations in Belarus File |
2022 |
Resolution: Situation of human rights in Belarus A/HRC/RES/50/20 Adopted on 8 July 2022 Subject(s) covered: - systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus - the right to freedoms of opinion and expression - independence and impartiality of the judiciary File |
2022 |
Resolution: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath A/HRC/RES/49/26 Adopted on 1 April 2022 Subject(s) covered: - impunity and lack of accountability for human rights violations committed in Belarus - systematic denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms - repression against independent media and civil society - electoral rights and obligations - forced diversion and landing of a civilian flight in Minsk on 23 May 2021 - documentation and monitoring human rights violations - request to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse information and evidence with a view to contributing to accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims - support for national, regional and international efforts to promote accountability for human rights violations in Belarus; |
2021 |
Resolution: Situation of human rights in Belarus A/HRC/RES/47/19 Adopted on 13 July 2021 Subject(s) covered: - systematic and widespread torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals detained and arrested in Belarus - forced diversion and landing of a civilian flight in Minsk on 23 May 2021 - freedoms of opinion and expression - discrimination affecting individuals in vulnerable situations File |
2021 |
Resolution: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath A/HRC/RES/46/20 Adopted on 24 March 2021 Subject(s) covered: - grave violations of human rights in Belarus in connection with the 2020 presidential election - electoral rights and obligations - documentation and monitoring human rights violations - the need for accountability for human rights violations, which is critical for the prevention of further violations - request to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse information and evidence with a view to contributing to accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims and to identify those responsible |
2020 |
Resolution: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath A/HRC/RES/45/1 Adopted on 18 September 2020 Subject(s) covered: - commitment of human rights violations in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath - arbitrary arrests and detentions on political grounds - documentation and monitoring human rights violations - the need for independent, transparent and impartial investigations into all human rights violations in Belarus |
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Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus |
2024 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin A/HRC/ 56/65 Published on 09 May 2024 Period covered: 1/04/2023-31/03/2024 Subject(s) covered: - recommendation to make broader use of the universal jurisdiction against alleged perpetrators of grave human rights violations committed in Belarus - recommendation of suspending the participation of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus in the International Labour Conference - the right to freedom of association - measures targeting citizens relocating abroad and their family members - right to life and physical integrity - torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in places of detention - enforced disappearances - arbitrary detention - politically motivated prosecution and fair trial guarantees - right to privacy |
2023 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin A/78/327 Published on 25 August 2023 Period covered: 08/2020-08/2023 Subject(s) covered: - domestic legislation and measures for countering terrorism and extremism and the impact thereof on the enjoyment of human rights in Belarus - human rights violations: arbitrary detention and imprisonment on politically motivated grounds - request to support international human rights mechanisms, including international accountability efforts, to address the protection needs of Belarusians who suffered from human rights violations |
2023 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin A/HRC/53/53 Published on 03 May 2023 Period covered: 1/04/2022-31/03/2023 Subject(s) covered: - the right to freedom of opinion and expression - rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association File |
2022 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Anais Marin A/77/195 Published on 20 July 2022 Subject(s) covered: - the situation of Belarusian nationals compelled to leave their country and unable to safely return due to human rights violations - right to freedom of opinion and expression - request to support human rights defenders and civil society organizations - request to support the accountability mechanisms to ensure justice for the victims of human rights violations in Belarus |
2022 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Anais Marin A/HRC/50/58 Published on 04 May 2022 Period covered: 1/04/2021-31/03/2022 Subject(s) covered: - constitutional reform in Belarus - critical role of human rights defenders and civil society organizations File |
2021 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Anais Marin A/76/145 Published on 19 July 2021 Subject(s) covered: - human rights of women in the Republic of Belarus File |
2021 |
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Anais Marin A/HRC/47/49 Published on 04 May 2021 Period covered: 01/04/2020-31/03/2021 Subject(s) covered: - the right to education |
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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UHCHR) |
2024 |
Report: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the context of the 2020 presidential election A/HRC/55/61 Published on 15 March 2024 Period covered: 1/05/2020-31/12/2023 Subject(s) covered: - conclusion is made that the crime of persecution, which is a crime against humanity, may have been committed in Belarus - request for applying principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction in order to seek accountability - freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly - arbitrary arrest and detention and the right to a fair trial - torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - sexual and gender-based violence - discriminatory, degrading and punitive conditions and treatment in detention - enforced disappearance - unlawful deaths - rights of the child - right to work and education - forced exile and right to nationality File |
2023 |
Report: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the context of the 2020 presidential election A/HRC/52/68 Published on 03 February 2023 Period covered: 1/05/2020-31/12/2022 Subject(s) covered: - conclusion is made that there are sufficient grounds to believe that systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed in Belarus - request for applying principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction in order to seek accountability - victims’ perspective on potential avenues for accountability, including referral of the situation in Belarus to the International Criminal Court, the establishment of an international tribunal, the initiation by Member States of criminal proceedings and the expansion of targeted sanctions against those involved in gross human rights violations) - detention conditions in Belarus amouns to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and torture - unnecessary and disproportionate use of force - torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - arbitrary arrest and detention - rights to due process and a fair trial - freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association - sexual and gender-based violence -child separation and undue interference in family life - forced exile - constitutional reform in Belarus - collection, documentation and preservence of evidence of the human rights violations |
20221 |
Report: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath A/HRC/49/71 Published on 4 March 2022 Period covered: 1/05/2020-31/12/2021. Subject(s) covered: - OHCHR has reasonable grounds to believe that a number of violations of international human rights law have been committed - crimes against humanity are perpetrated when certain prohibited acts are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack; such acts include imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law; torture; rape and certain acts of sexual violence; and other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health - given the scale and patterns of the violations identified in the present report, their widespread and systematic nature, and the evidence of official policy, knowledge and direction in respect of their collective execution by multiple State organs, in particular regarding mass arbitrary detention in the period from 9 to 14 August 2020, there are sufficient indicia to warrant further assessment of the available evidence from the perspective of applicable international criminal law - documentation and preservation of information and evidence of human rights violations committed in Belarus for the purposes of present and future accountability measures - recommendation to apply principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction - recommendation to review domestic legal systems with a view to addressing and removing structural barriers that may hinder effective investigations and prosecutions based on extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction - unnecessary and disproportionate use of force - arbitrary arrest and detention - torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - failure to effectively investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment - rights to due process and to a fair trial - sexual and gender-based violence File |
2021 |
Report: Situation of human rights in Belarus in the context of the 2020 presidential election A/HRC/46/4 Published on 15 February 2021 Period covered: 1/05/2020-20/12/2020. Subject(s) covered: - free and fair elections - freedom of peaceful assembly - freedom of expression - arbitrary arrests and detentions - rights to due process and to a fair trial - torture and ill-treatment - lack of any action to ensure the accountability for human rights violations |
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The Council of Europe |
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Parliamentary Assembly |
2024 |
Resolution: The arbitrary detention of Vladimir Kara-Murza and the systematic persecution of anti-war protesters in the Russian Federation and Belarus Resolution 2541 (2024) Adopted on 17 April 2024 Subject(s) covered: - systematic persecution of anti-war protesters in Belarus - call on Member States to introduce restrictive measures (in particular, sanctions under their “Magnitsky laws”) against individuals involved in the political persecution of Belarusians because of their anti-war stance |
2024 |
Resolution: A democratic future for Belarus 2530 (2024) Adopted on 25 January 2024 Subject(s) covered: - the repression by the Lukashenka regime against the Belarusian people is serious, widespread and systematic; they may amount to crimes against humanity and warrant full accountability under domestic and international law - the weaponisation of migrants, the interception and forced landing of Ryanair Flight FR4978 and the Lukashenka regime’s involvement in the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine are serious violations of international law - the Lukashenka regime’s active support given to the forced deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children may be regarded as war crimes - call on Member States to assist Belarusian victims of violence, repression and torture - call on Member States to support ongoing international efforts for accountability, including via the establishment of a system of accountability for the crimes and human rights violations committed against the Belarusian people, and by exercising universal jurisdiction provided for in their criminal legislation - call on Member States to explore options for how the Lukashenka regime can be held accountable for its involvement in the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine - call on Member States to support the investigations of the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General into the role of Belarus in forced transfers of children, and the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in connection with the alleged war crimes of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from or to the temporarily and illegally controlled or occupied areas of Ukraine |
2023 |
Resolution: Addressing the specific challenges faced by the Belarusians in exile Resolution 2499 (2023) Adopted on 20 June 2023 Subject(s) covered: - challenges faced by the Belarusians in exile File |
2022 |
Resolution: Strengthening the role of the Council of Europe as a cornerstone of the European political architecture Resolution 2473 (2022) Adopted on 25 November 2022 Subject(s) covered: - war of aggression is based on the imperialistic, anti-European and anti-humanistic ideology of the “Russian world”, comes on the heels of other challenges to democracy and security in Europe, such as democratic backsliding, populism, organised disinformation and, as a consequence, a lack of trust in democratic institutions - Council of Europe plays a pivotal role in the core domains of the rule of law, democracy and human rights, and should remain the international standard setter on these themes - support to the Belarusian human rights defenders, democratic forces, free media and independent civil society that respect the values and principles of the Council of Europe - establishment of a system of accountability for the crimes and human rights violations committed by the current Belarusian regime against the Belarusian people - support to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor in his task of investigating and prosecuting suspected perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and, possibly, genocide, by providing political support and adequate human and financial resources and by making available any evidence in their possession File |
2022 |
Resolution: Consequences of the Russian Federation's continued aggression against Ukraine: role and response of the Council of Europe Resolution 2433 (2022) Adopted on 27 April 2022 Subject(s) covered: - Belarus’ involvement in the aggression against Ukraine - the responsibility of the illegitimate Lukashenko and his regime in creating the conditions allowing the use of the Belarusian territory and its infrastructure by the Russian Federation for perpetrating an act of aggression against Ukraine File |
2021 |
Resolution: Human rights violations in Belarus require an international investigation 2372 (2021) Adopted on 21 April 2021 Subject(s) covered: - serious and repeated human rights violations, committed on a massive scale - importance of combating impunity for the perpetrators of serious human rights violations - call on Member States to exersize universal jurisdiction - call on Member States to use sanctions on perpetrators of serious human rights violations - call on the European Union to support the initiative aimed at creating a coordination platform to combat impunity for the perpetrators of human rights violations in Belarus. This platform would gather, analyze, and assess relevant information to assist national law enforcement authorities in exercising universal jurisdiction and imposing targeted sanctions via existing or new “Magnitsky mechanisms.” It also aims to strengthen personalized sanctions against those perpetrating human rights violations, including police, prosecutors, and judges. - International Accountability Platform for Belarus - prosecutions initiated by Lithuanian courts based on universal jurisdiction File |
2021 |
Resolution: Urgent need for electoral reform in Belarus 2371 (2021) Adopted on 21 April 2021 Subject(s) covered: - the 2020 presidential election in Belarus was neither free nor fair - international standards for democratic elections File |
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Committee of Ministers |
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Decision: Relations between the Council of Europe and Belarus CM/Del/Dec(2022)1429/2.5 Adopted on 17 March 2022 Subject(s) covered: - decision to suspend all relations with Belarus as a result of the country's active participation in the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine File |
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European Union |
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European Parliament |
2024 |
Resolution: New wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members P9_TA(2024)0070 Adopted on 8 February 2024 Subject(s) covered: - sanctions on the Lukashenka regime, including against goods involving political prisoners’ forced labour, stricter financial sanctions, and sanctions on individuals responsible for serious humanrights violations, including high-level officials and members of the security forces - documentation of human rights violations in Belarus - accountability through extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction File |
2023 |
Resolution: The unknown status of Mikalai Statkevich and the recent attacks on Belarusian politicians’ and activists’ family members P9_TA(2023)0477 Adopted on 14 December 2023 Subject(s) covered: - political prisoners - documentation of international crimes and accountability - demand to prosecute and sanction all those responsible for human rights violations and war crimes under the Lukashenka regime File |
2023 |
Resolution: Relations with Belarus P9_TA(2023)0321 Adopted on 13 September 2023 Subject(s) covered: - the illegitimate regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka is exacerbating its systematic repression against the Belarusian people - Member States are called to prepare the ground for the criminal prosecution of Belarusian officials who are responsible for or complicit in electoral fraud, grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity, under the accepted principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction - supports discussions about the possible establishment of an international tribunal for human rights violations in Belarus - political prisoners - involvement of the Lukashenka regime in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine - sanctions against Belarus - sovereignty of Belarus and protection of its language and national culture - democratic forces of Belarus File |
2023 |
Resolution: Belarus: the inhumane treatment and hospitalisation of prominent opposition leader Viktar Babaryka P9_TA(2023)0199 Adopted on 11 May 2023 Subject(s) covered: - political prisoners - EU sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for the repression in Belarus, including judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, prison and penal colony officials, and regime enablers - sanctions against those responsible for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus |
2023 |
Resolution: Further repression against the people of Belarus, in particular the cases of Andrzej Poczobut and Ales Bialiatski P9_TA(2023)0075 Adopted on 15 March 2023 Subject(s) covered: - the ongoing repression in Belarus amounts to grave violations of human rights - Member States are called upon to actively apply the universal jurisdiction principle and prepare court cases against Belarusian officials, including Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who are responsible for, or complicit in, systematic violence and repression and crimes against humanity - the Lukashenka regime is an accomplice in state sponsorship of terrorism and an accomplice of a state which uses the means of terrorism - the EU and its Member States are called upon to broaden and strengthen the EU sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for the repression in Belarus and to include all individuals complicit in the regime’s repression against the democratic opposition and political protesters, including judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement, prison and penal colony officials, and ensure the sanctions’ proper enforcement - the International Criminal Court is encouraged to investigate and initiate pre-trial proceedings against the Belarusian regime in cases of crimes against humanity - political prisoners - the right to have a nationality File |
2022 |
Resolution: The continuing repression of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus P9_TA(2022)0418 Adopted on 24 November 2022 Subject(s) covered: - Lukashenka and those associated with him are equally responsible for the war crimes in Ukraine and should be held accountable before the international tribunal and the International Criminal Court - call for allowing for the confiscation of assets frozen by the EU, which would also make it possible to confiscate the assets of Lukashenka, his family and the inner circle enabling the regime, including judges, prosecutors, propagandists, members of the militia, KGB and security operatives involved in repression, sentencing, unlawful detention and torture, and to channel these resources to support its victims and the Belarusian democratic opposition File |
2022 |
Resolution: Prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus P9_TA(2022)0215 Adopted on 19 May 2022 Subject(s) covered: - Belarus is jointly responsible for the Russia’s attack against Ukraine, bearing all the legal consequences deriving from international law - the constitutional referendum of 27 February 2022 is illegal - Member States are called upon to apply the universal jurisdiction principle - the EU institutions are called upon to take all necessary action in international institutions and proceedings and at the International Criminal Court or other appropriate international tribunals or courts to support the investigation and prosecution, in relation to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, of the actions of those politically responsible in Belarus, in particular Aliaksandr Lukashenka, as war crimes and crimes against humanity File |
2021 |
Resolution: The situation in Belarus after one year of protests and their violent repression P9_TA(2021)0420 Adopted on 7 October 2021 Subject(s) covered: - the European Council is called upon to agree on a comprehensive and strategic approach to sanctions against the Belarusian regime, which should include a shift from a step-by-step approach towards a more determined sanctions approach based on the systemic nature of repression and serious violations of human rights - Member States are called upon to actively apply the universal jurisdiction principle and prepare court cases against Belarusian officials responsible for or complicit in violence and repression, including Aliaksandr Lukashenka - support for further discussions about a possible international tribunal for human rights violations in Belarus to be set up in The Hague - political prisoners - instrumentalisation of migration File |
2021 |
Resolution: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by Belarusian authorities P9_TA(2021)0293 Adopted on 10 June 2021 Subject(s) covered: - the hijacking and forced landing of Ryanair flight FR4978 in Minsk and the detention by Belarusian authorities of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega is a violation of international law which constitutes an act of state terrorism - the current Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus is illegitimate, illegal and criminal - call for an enlargement of the EU sanctions list - calls for the sanctioning of a substantially larger number of Belarusian officials, such as prosecutors, judges and law-enforcement employees who play a role in the repression and wrongful conviction of regime critics, as well as police, prison service staff, members of parliament and government and the agents working for the regime in the areas of propaganda, media, disinformation and hate-speech, of individuals and entities who support Lukashenka and his regime - political prisoners - the need for a comprehensive investigation into the crimes committed by the Lukashenka regime against the people of Belarus, which should be concluded with the setting-up of an international tribunal to prosecute those crimes - the importance of the initiatives by several EU Member States to apply the universal jurisdiction principle and prepare court cases against Belarusian perpetrators of repression - call for active support for all international initiatives that seek to address the impunity in Belarus, such as the International Platform Against Impunity and the Justice Hub in Vilnius |
2020 |
Resolution: The continuous violations of human rights in Belarus, in particular the murder of Raman Bandarenka P9_TA-PROV(2020)0331 Adopted on 26 November 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the EU is called upon to lend support to an international investigation of crimes perpetrated by the Lukashenka regime against the people of Belarus; this investigation should be supported by the establishment of an evidence collection centre and an EU taskforce of international law experts to assist in future international investigation - support to ensure documentation and reporting of human rights violations and subsequent accountability and justice for victims - call for a credible enlargement of the EU sanctions list - political prisoners |
2020 |
Resolution: Situation in Belarus P9_TA(2020)0231 Adopted on 17 September 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the European Union and its Member States did not recognize the results of the presidential elections held in Belarus on 9 August 2020 due to significant doubts about the election's fairness and widespread reports of falsification - the European Parliament will not recognize Aliaksandr Lukashenka as the president of Belarus. - the European Parliament supports broad and effective sanctions against individuals responsible for falsifying the election results and repressing the people in Belarus, including Aliaksandr Lukashenka. - support extends to the possibility of including Russian citizens directly involved in supporting the Lukashenka regime in Belarus. - the EU Council is called upon to establish a comprehensive, effective, and timely EU-wide restrictive measures mechanism (the so-called Magnitsky list) to target any individuals, state and non-state actors, and other entities responsible for or involved responsible for or involved in grave human rights violations and abuses - there is a need for a thorough investigation into the crimes committed by the regime against the people of Belarus. - support is given to the documentation and reporting of human rights violations by international organizations, ensuring accountability and justice for victims File |
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European Council |
2024 |
Conclusions on Belarus Approved 19 February 2024 Subject(s) covered: - support for the Belarusian people’s quest for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus - deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus - national identity of Belarus File |
2020 |
Conclusions on external relations Approved on 1 October 2020 Subject(s) covered: - call on the Belarusian authorities to end violence and repression, release all detainees and political prisoners, respect media freedom and civil society, and start an inclusive national dialogue. - agreement to impose restrictive measures - the European Commission is encouraged to prepare a plan of economic support for democratic Belarus - EU sanctions against the Lukashenka regime File |
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Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) |
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OSCE Parliamentary Assembly |
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Resolution: Support for a democratic Belarus Adopted on 11 May 2023 Subject(s) covered: - violation of OSCE commitments and international obligations - lack of an independent judicial system; flagrant abuse of the justice system - political prisoners - accountability of the Lukashenko government File |
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Moscow Mechanism |
2023 |
On 23 March 2023, by 38 OSCE participating States (Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States) to examine alleged human rights violations and abuses in Belarus. |
OSCE Rapporteur’s Report on the serious threat to the OSCE human dimension in Belarus since 5 November 2020 Adopted on 11 May 2023 Subject(s) covered: - politically motivated repression - torture and inhuman or degrading treatment - legislative amendments and constitutional reform in Belarus - official statements by the highest authorities of the Republic of Belarus - war in Ukraine - political rights and the democratic process, - freedoms of assembly and association, - freedom of expression and the right of access to information, - rights to liberty and security, - fair trial, - impunity and lack of effective remedies - ineffectiveness of the international remedies - OSCE Participating states are recommended to take all the necessary steps to ensure accountability for the repression in Belarus, through national, regional or international procedures - OSCE Participating states are recommended to undertake investigations and prosecution under extraterritorial jurisdiction, including universal jurisdiction - reporting and documenting human rights violations in Belarus File |
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2020 |
On 18 September 2020, by 17 OSCE participating States (Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States) to examine alleged human rights violations in Belarus. |
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OSCE Rapporteur’s Report on Alleged Human Rights Violations related to the Presidential Elections of 9 August 2020 in Belarus Adopted on 5 November 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the allegations that the presidential elections of 2020 were not transparent, free or fair were found confirmed - massive and systematic human rights violation are proven beyond doubt - political rights and electoral processes - freedoms of assembly, expression, and media - prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - impunity and the lack of effective remedies File |
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Joint multi-national statements and resolutions |
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Baltic Council (Baltic Assembly + Baltic Council of Ministers) – organisations of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) |
2023 |
Joint Statement of the 29th Baltic Council Adopted on 24 November 2023 Subject(s) covered: - ongoing human rights violations and abuses by the Lukashenka’s regime - Belarus has become a threat of international scale - involvement of Lukashenko’s regime in Russia’s war against Ukraine - restrictive measures against Belarus and full international accountability of its leaders |
2022 |
Joint Statement of the 28th Baltic Council Adopted on 28 October 2022 Subject(s) covered: - sanctions agains Belarus - the sovereignty of the Belarusian people - involvement of Lukashenko’s regime in Russia’s war against Ukraine; Lukashenko’s regime is equally responsible for death and destruction the war has caused - international accountability efforts for Belarus - support to Belarusian civil society File |
2021 |
Joint Statement of the 27th Baltic Council Adopted on 5 November 2021 Subject(s) covered: - systemic actions of the Belarusian regime aimed at eliminating the entire civil society and silence free media - accountability for all those who have committed or have enabled the regime’s crimes against Belarusian population - support to Belarusian civil society and its efforts to build a democratic and prosperous Belarus. |
2020 |
Joint Statement of the 26th Baltic Council Adopted on 6 November 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the 9 August 2020 Presidential elections in Belarus as neither free nor fair - Alexander Lukashenko lacks any democratic legitimacy and should respect the will of the people of Belarus - support to democratic transformation in Belarus File |
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The foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuanianand Poland |
2023 |
Joint Statement Adopted on 9 August 2023 Subject(s) covered: - the 9 August 2020 Presidential elections in Belarus as neither free nor fair - violence against post-election demonstrations File |
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The foreign ministers of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden |
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Joint Statement on recent development in Belarus Adopted on 11 August 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the Lukashenko’s regime continues its steadily worsening inhumane repression - the Lukashenko regime has been acting as an accomplice and direct supporter of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine - EU sanctions |
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Lithuania |
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Parliament (Seimas) |
2022 |
Resolution on grave and systematic violations of human rights in Belarus No XIV-1628 Adopted on 8 December 2022 Subject(s) covered: - recognition of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus chaired by her as the representatives of Belarusian democracy - the mass repression of the people of Belarus by the Belarusian regime could be considered as being equivalent to crimes against humanity referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and Articles 100 and 1001 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania - sanctions against organisations and individuals of the Belarusian regime, the business entities linked with the regime, responsible for the repression of the people of Belarus, falsification of the elections and other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as instrumentalisation of illegal migration, in particular for the so-called Belarusian internal affairs and state security officers, prosecutors and judges - universal jurisdiction - establishment of a special international tribunal for investigation of crimes against humanity by the Belarusian regime against the people of Belarus - establishment of a special international tribunal for investigation of the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which would also have jurisdiction over the activities of the top political and military leadership of the Belarusian regime in perpetration of this aggression |
2022 |
Resolution on the aggression of Russia and Belarus against Ukraine No XIV-930 Adopted on 24 February 2022 Subject(s) covered: - the active involvement of Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in the Russian Federation’s strategy of aggression against Ukraine and the amassing of Russian troops on the territory of Belarus - sanctions against Belarusian regime File |
2021 |
Resolution on the act of state terrorism perpetrated by Belarus against a civil aircraft No XIV-345 Adopted on 25 May 2021 Subject(s) covered: - orced landing of a Ryanair civil aircraft (flight FR4978) en route from Athens to Vilnius at Minsk airport on 23 May 2021 is an act of state terrorism perpetrated by Belarus - sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko’s regime File |
2020 |
Resolution on sanctions against the Belarusian officials responsible for or contributing to the falsification of the results of the presidential elections held in the republic of Belarus, violence and repressions against participants of the peaceful protests and other violations of human rights No XIII-3303 Adopted on 24 September 2020 Subject(s) covered: - sanctions against the Belarusian officials responsible for and perpetrating violence and repressions, falsification of the election results and other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms |
2020 |
Resolution on illegitimate union imposed by Russia on Belarus No XIII-3282 Adopted on 10 September 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the sovereignty of the Belarusian people - sanctions against the Russian Federation and the representatives of the illegitimate leader of Belarus in the event of attempts to unlawfully restrict the country’s sovereignty against the will of the Belarusian people |
2020 |
Resolution on the situation in the Republic of Belarus following the falsified presidential elections No XIII-3281 Adopted on 18 August 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the results of the presidential elections held in the Republic of Belarus on 9 August 2020 have been falsified - sanctions against Belarusian officials - the EU global human rights sanctions regime - support for the Belarusian people to build their country’s future in accordance with the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights File |
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Latvia |
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Parliament (Saeima) |
2020 |
Statement on the legitimacy of the mandate claimed by the president of Belarus Adopted on 1 October 2020 Subject(s) covered: - Latvia does not recognise the results of the Belarusian presidential election held on 9 August 2020 - Latvia does not recognise Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus - EU sanctions regime |
2020 |
Statement on the presidential election in Belarus Adopted on 18 August 2020 Subject(s) covered: - the Belarusian presidential election on 9 August 2020 did not conform to the international commitments of Belarus and internationally recognised standards of democracy and the rule of law and was not free and fair - sanctions against the Belarusian officials responsible for the violations of human rights and tampering with election results - support to the Belarusian society File |
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Estonia |
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Parliament (Riigikogu) |
2020 |
Statement: In Support of Democracy and Civil Society in Belarus Adopted on 25 August 2020 Subject(s) covered: - Estonia does not recognise the results of the 9 August 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, because these were not free, fair, or democratic - support to the people of Belarus in their fight for a free, democratic, and dignified future - sanctions against Belarusian regime File |
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Germany |
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Parliament (Bundestag) |
2023 |
Resolution: Für ein demokratisches Belarus in der europäischen Familie Adopted on 8 November 2023 Subject(s) covered: - release of political prisoners as a priority - the Belarusian presidential election on 9 August 2020 did not conform internationally recognised standards and was not free and fair - A. Lukashenko is not the legitimate president of Belarus - the Belarusian regime is involved in one of war crimes – the deportation of Ukrainian children - support for the sanctions against Belarusian regime, including against the Belarusian security and intelligence apparatus as well as against all judges responsible for arbitrary sentences against political prisoners - support for the Belarusian democracy movement - support for the collection of evidence for the most severe human rights violations - support for bringing the perpetrators and those politically responsible to justice |
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Human Rights Defenders Call for the establishment of ad hoc tribunal for the crimes against humanity in Belarus |
2023 |
Law and Democracy Center (Justice Hub): The Report on Crimes against Humanity Published on June 2023 |
2023 |
Law and Democracy Center (Justice Hub): Vilnius Communiqué 2023, International Conference Responsibility of Lukashenka’s regime for crimes against humanity and migrant crisis: prospects for international justice Published on June 2023 |
2023 |
The International Strategic Action Network for Security: Special Tribunal for Belarus: Legal and policy implications Published on 25 July 2023 |
2022 |
The German Marshall Fund of the United States: International Mechanisms for Accountability for Human Rights Violations in Belarus Published on January 2022 File |
2021 |
National Anti-Crisis Management: A five-point declaration, International Conference “Crimes against Humanity and Recognition of Lukashenko as a Terrorist” Published on October 2021 File |