UN will look into allegations of torture and other violations in Belarus with focus on crackdown on protests over the disputed re-election of President Lukashenko
UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anais Marin, is seen speaking at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on September 18, 2020, in Geneva.
The vote followed a dramatic “urgent debate” in which Belarus and backers like China, Russia and Venezuela sought to muzzle speakers like Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a former English teacher who placed second to Lukashenko in the country's disputed presidential election last month. “The council’s consideration of the recent events in Belarus is timely,” UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in remarks delivered by her deputy. “Peaceful mass demonstrations have continued to contest the declared result of last month’s presidential elections.”
"We request that the intervention by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya be stopped," the Belarusian ambassador said, referring to the opposition leader and her remarks. “We deny the unfounded accusations of sexual violence against protesters. There is no official record of this. The resolution presented by Germany raises concerns about torture, “arbitrary deprivations of life,” and sexual and gender-based violence linked to the August 9 election.The resolution also cited alleged intimidation, harassment and detention of opponents of Lukashenko's government before and after the election.
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