7 March 2025, GENEVA – Belarus must disclose the fate and whereabouts of pro-democracy activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski on the second anniversary of his enforced disappearance, UN experts* said today. They recalled that several other members of pro-democratic forces have also been subjected to enforced disappearance or held incommunicado for extended periods of time, including Viktar Babaryka, Mikalai Statkevich, Maryia Kalesnikava and Maksim Znak.
“Belarus must end the use of enforced disappearance against political opponents and civic activists,” the experts said. “We are deeply concerned over the continued incommunicado detention and ill-treatment of women and men political prisoners.”
Reports indicate that incommunicado detainees are also held in prolonged solitary confinement, denied communication with families and legal representation, and deprived of essential medical care.
“The enforced disappearance of Mr. Tsikhanouski and others is a blatant violation of international law. These actions seek to silence political opposition and instill fear,” the experts said.
“Belarus must immediately disclose their fate and whereabouts and, in general, ensure political opponents and civic activists held incommunicado and in prolonged solitary confinement are provided contact with the outside world.”
The experts cited credible reports of detainees, including older prisoners and those with chronic illnesses, being held in inhumane conditions amounting to torture. Many are suffering from serious health conditions and have been denied adequate medical treatment.
“Denying medical care and keeping prisoners in prolonged incommunicado detention violate Belarus’ international obligations and amount to torture,” the experts said. “We urge Belarus to end these abuses and ensure accountability.”
The treatment of high-profile political prisoners is a critical test for Belarus’ penitentiary system. If even well-known prisoners are denied medical care, placed in punitive isolation, held incommunicado or subjected to enforced disappearance, conditions for lesser-known detainees are likely even worse.
The experts recalled that in its numerous opinions the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (for instance, Opinion No. 24/2022 concerning Maksim Znak) found the detention of oppositional leaders and activists in Belarus arbitrary and requested their immediate release.
They acknowledged the release of some political prisoners in the past months but stressed that these were often contingent on promises of subsequent cooperation with security services and participation in propaganda videos.
“We welcome recent steps toward releasing detainees,” the experts said. “However, this process must not be selective or accompanied by onerous conditions. All political prisoners must be freed immediately, and those responsible for abuses must face justice.”
Marking this grim anniversary, the experts called on Belarus to clarify without delay the fate and whereabouts of forcibly disappeared persons, release all arbitrarily detained individuals, allow independent monitoring of detention conditions, engage meaningfully with international human rights mechanisms, and bring its counter-terrorism and anti-extremist legal framework in conformity with international legal standards.
“We urge the international community to maintain pressure for accountability and justice,” the experts said.
*The experts: Gabriella Citroni (Chair-Rapporteur), Grażyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair); Aua Baldé, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, Mohammed Al-Obaidi (members), Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; Matthew Gillett (Chair-Rapporteur), Ganna Yudkivska (Vice-Chair on Communications), Priya Gopalan (Vice-Chair on Follow-Up), Miriam Estrada Castillo and Mumba Malila, Working Group on arbitrary detention; Nils Muižnieks, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; and Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
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