UN Experts Say Belarus Justice System Targets Critics

A UN Group of Independent Experts report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council this week, finds Belarusian state institutions have since 2020 coordinated arrests, detention, conviction and post-release supervision against real or perceived critics of President Alexander Lukashenko. The experts describe systematic violations including arbitrary detention, torture, closed trials and denial of legal safeguards, and reiterate that some abuses since May 2020 may constitute crimes against humanity, including persecution and imprisonment. Belarus did not cooperate and did not respond to visit requests. What is contested Lukashenko denies holding political prisoners and calls them bandits; Viasna says more than 900 remain held. The report says courts and prosecutors helped legitimize abuses; laws on extremism, terrorism and related offenses have been used against opposition figures, journalists, rights defenders and ordinary citizens. Ales Bialiatski told Reuters last month that despite releases secured through U.S. engagement, the machinery of repression keeps running. John Coale arrived in Minsk on Tuesday for his first talks in six months with Lukashenko on prisoner releases. Coverage is thin on the right in the rated set; left and center both lead the UN justice-system findings.