The United Nations (UN) has published Special Procedures communications addressed to the Government of Belarus, highlighting widespread human rights violations in the country.

These communications were submitted under the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus and form part of the global monitoring efforts on repression, which has intensified following the 2020 protests.

BLR 8/2024: Absentia Trials and Systemic Violations of Fair Trial Rights

Communication BLR 8/2024 focuses on absentia trials conducted under the so-called “special procedure” (Article 468-27 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Belarus). This mechanism deprives the accused of their right to effective defense and a fair trial. Among those sentenced in absentia are:

  • Olga Karach – human rights defender, director of the International Center for Civil Initiatives “Our House”, sentenced to 12 years in a general regime penal colony.
  • Yevgeny Vilsky – acting chairman of the Social Democratic Party “Narodnaya Hramada”, sentenced to 12 years in a general regime penal colony.
  • Veronika Tsepkalo – one of the leaders of the 2020 Belarusian revolution, human rights defender, sentenced to 12 years in a general regime penal colony.
  • Valery Tsepkalo – Belarusian presidential candidate-2020, sentenced to 17 years in a high-security penal colony.

• • • And others.

The Belarusian government’s response was received on February 12, 2025, and is currently being translated and will be published in the UN Special Procedures public database.

🔗 Link to the document: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=29548

Call for Action

The UN and international human rights organizations continue to urge Belarusian authorities to end the persecution of activists, human rights defenders, and opposition figures and to restore the activities of independent civil society organizations.

The publication of these communications is a crucial step in holding Belarus accountable for its ongoing repression and ensuring that international pressure remains strong against human rights violations in the country.

 

Meanwhile, Olga Karach…

 

Related articles:

The trial in absentia of human rights defender Olga Karach began in Belarus WHRD Olga Karach sentenced to 12 years in prison in absentia in Belarus The Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the 12-year prison sentence and a fine of €170,000 for human rights activist Olga Karach Olga Karach: Investigations into Violations of Children Rights in Belarus Should Be a Priority Olga Karach appealed to the UN Human Rights Council Human rights defender Olga Karach banned from military service in Belarus
Aleh Barshcheuski All Articles