Europe

Belarus
Last reviewed: 27 June 2008

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HUMAN RIGHTS

Belarus's human rights record since President Lukashenko came to power in 1994 has been poor. The past year has been no exception. A September 2006 report by Adrian Severin, the UN Special Rapporteur appointed in 2004 by the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights, was highly critical of the situation. This is one of many reports to cite numerous human rights violations including persistent accounts of harassment of NGOs, the independent media, opposition political parties, educational institutions, religious organisations, and trade unions.

This pattern of repression was particularly evident in the build up to parliamentary elections in October 2004 and the presidential election in March 2006, when opposition figures were put under intense pressure and numerous independent media outlets were suspended or closed. The situation continues to deteriorate, while the Belarusian authorities continue to ignore concerns raised by the EU and others.

The EU's concerns include the disappearance of four opponents of the regime in 1999/2000, including former Belarusian Interior Minister Yury Zakharenko and Viktor Gonchar, a deputy of Belarus' 13th Supreme Soviet. Despite appeals from the international community, the Belarusian authorities have yet to investigate satisfactorily these disappearances. The EU has repeatedly called on the Belarusian authorities to open a truly independent investigation, but the Belarusians have failed to act. In response, in September 2004 the EU decided to apply travel restrictions against those Belarusian officials named in the Pourgourides report on 'Disappeared Persons in Belarus' as key actors in the disappearances (this report was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in April 2004). Those subject to the restrictions include the former Head of the Presidential Administration and current Head of the Security Council, Viktor Sheiman, the former Minister for Sports and Tourism, Yuri Sivakov, and the Minister of the Interior, Vladimir Naumov. The travel ban imposed by the 10 April 2006 GAERC includes these three individuals.

Pressure against NGOs continues to grow. Registration is becoming prohibitively expensive, while excessive legal requirements are making it easier for the authorities to shut them down. In April 2005, the Belarusian Supreme Court ordered the closure of the Independent Institute of Social, Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS), an independent polling organisation. The charges against IISEPS, which are indicative of the excessive legal requirements in place, included using its abbreviated title in media publications and failing to provide the authorities with sample questionnaires. The Belarus Helsinki Committee remains vulnerable following various court rulings against it.

The independent media faces ever increasing pressure. Already seriously diminished following numerous closures during the 2004 election period, the few remaining independent media outlets struggle to survive. In October 2005 the state owned monopoly printers and distributors terminated the contract of the last remaining independent daily newspaper, Narodnaya Volya. At the start of 2006 the state owned postal service refused to distribute numerous small independent newspapers. Several have also had problems with printing in Russia. All electronic media is in state hands, and independent media outlets labour under restrictive regulations and increasing (and arbitrarily applied) costs and fines. A report published in March 2005 by the OSCE's representative on Freedom of the Media was critical of the situation in Belarus, highlighting the declining number of independent media outlets, the growing number of administrative warnings and suspensions, and the overwhelming dominance of the state media.

Politically motivated arrests and detentions continue, with recent examples including Dmitry Dashkevich (leader of the Malady Front youth movement) and four members of the Partnership NGO. The powers of the authorities to arrest and detain people have increased following the adoption at the end of 2005 of legislation amending the Belarusian Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. The legislation is aimed at toughening punishments for "activities directed against people and public security" and goes against many of Belarus’ human rights commitments. The EU issued two statements on 2 and 15 December 2005 condemning the new legislation and calling on the Belarusian National Assembly to reconsider its decision to approve it. These calls were ignored.

Selected educational institutions are under increasing pressure, and the European Humanities University in Minsk has been shut down. Trade Unions also face major difficulties - an ILO Commission of Inquiry has concluded that many of the basic civil liberties of trade union members and leaders in Belarus have been seriously infringed. The European Commission, fully supported by Member States, has conducted its own investigation confirming these findings. Belarus’ failure to correct the situation led to the temporary withdrawal of GSP preferences on 21 June 2007. The measure will entail higher import duties on Belarusian goods and will affect around 10% of Belarus exports.

The UK and EU continue to raise human rights issues with the Belarusian government by way of regular EU statements, demarches by EU heads of mission in Minsk, and through international organisations including the UN and OSCE. In 2005 the EU and US successfully co-sponsored a resolution on Belarus at the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. This also reappointed Adrian Severin as UN Special Rapporteur, although the Belarusians refused to allow him entry into the country. No UNCHR was held in 2006. Severin was, however, reappointed by the new Human Rights Council. At the Council's 5th session on 18 June UNCHR decided to terminate Severin’s mandate.