United Nations Human Rights Council

59^th Session

Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus

26 June 2025

EU statement

Mr President, 

The EU expresses strong concerns about the findings of the Special Rapporteur, which illustrate the continued politically motivated repression and a crackdown on freedom of expression, assembly and association, including through the misuse of counter-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation.

The EU strongly condemns the ongoing gross, systematic and widespread human rights violations, some of which may amount to crimes against humanity. We urge the Belarusian authorities to halt their internal as well as transnational repression and to adhere to the country’s international obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. 

We echo the Special Rapporteur’s calls for effective and impartial investigations into and accountability for all cases of ill-treatment, torture and appalling detention conditions that may have led to deaths in custody. The EU acknowledges the release of 14 political prisoners this Saturday, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who we understand has been held under deplorable conditions, as a positive step after prolonged injustice. We continue to urge for the immediate and unconditional release and effective rehabilitation of all political prisoners in the country. The EU stresses the obligation to uphold the rights of political prisoners, including the right to due process and a fair trial, and to safeguard their human dignity, while ensuring they have access to legal representation, medical care and contact with their families. We urge Belarus to stop repression against free and independent Belarusian media, human rights defenders, lawyers,trade union leaders and LGBTI persons. 

The EU continues to urge the Belarusian authorities to stop their involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to halt their instrumentalisation of migrants for political purposes, in complicity with Russia. The EU reiterates its urgent call on Belarus to immediately ensure the safe return to Ukraine of all unlawfully deported Ukrainian children.

Mr Special Rapporteur, could you provide more details on the application of the death penalty  after the decision to expand capital punishment to high treason in 2023 and the impact this has on political prisoners? 

Thank you.