Since the start of Russia’s offensive war against Ukraine, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has noted a further deterioration of the worrying human rights situation in Belarus. An independent committee of experts will now investigate this.
On Thursday, the OSCE Permanent Council activated the so-called “Moscow Mechanism” for Belarus. This allows an independent expert mission to be set up to investigate reports of human rights violations in the country. The basis for this decision was a report published last Friday by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on crimes against humanity against Belarusian opposition figures.
Austria and 37 others of the 57 OSCE member states voted to activate the mechanism. The aim is to investigate allegations of serious human rights violations by the Belarusian authorities, in particular against members of the opposition, human rights defenders and political prisoners.
Not a fair trial
According to the OSCE, almost 1,500 political prisoners and 30 journalists are being held in Belarus. Torture occurs in prisons and detainees have no chance of a fair trial. Independent media and “almost all non-governmental organizations” were shut down by the regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
Austria condemns Belarus
Belarus continues its “brutal, unacceptable and massive repression of civil society without precedent”, according to a statement from the Austrian Foreign Ministry. It also condemns Belarus for its “continued support” for the “brutal Russian offensive war against Ukraine” and “strongly supports the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus,” the letter said. We will continue to support “the courageous aspirations of Belarusian civil society for democracy, justice and the rule of law”.
The 2020 report made a number of recommendations, including holding new, free presidential elections based on international standards, ending violence against the people of Belarus, releasing those wrongfully imprisoned, and enter into a dialogue with representatives of the political opposition and civil society.
Belarus ignored the allegations
In the more than two years since the publication of this report, the Belarusian authorities “have not addressed the serious allegations of violations and abuses identified in it and have completely ignored its recommendations,” the OSCE further reasoned. in their actions.
Source: Krone
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