Intervention by the Czech Republic

35^th Session of the Human Rights Council

Item 4

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus

14^th June, 2017
Statement of the Czech Republic
Mr. Special Rapporteur,
The Czech Republic thanks you for your well-informed and comprehensive report on the human rights situation in Belarus. While regretting that Belarus has once again decided not to grant its cooperation to the office of Special Rapporteur, we are more than ever convinced that the continuation of your valuable work is indispensible and therefore support the extension of your mandate.
The international community has been hoping for a gradual improvement of the human rights situation in Belarus which may have resulted in deeper cooperation between Belarus and its neighbours and global partners. We regret that according to your report there has not only been no improvement in many areas, you have also described deterioration in some of them. Understandingly, your report puts great emphasis on freedom of assembly, association and expression, as it is clearly influenced by the events in March 2017. We share your concerns about the repressive approach Belarusian authorities have chosen towards peaceful protesters exercising their human rights and even towards journalists. We would like to assure you that the eyes of the international community are focused on those protesters and human rights defenders facing trials. We believe that it is in the interest of Belarusian authorities to prove that what you describe as “cyclical pattern” of reoccurring repressions after brief periods of relative liberalization is not being repeated.
Sharing the wish of many Belarusians, the Czech Republic would like to see Belarus becoming more closely integrated with its European neighbours. In our capacity as the current chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, we join your appeal on Belarus to impose a moratorium on death penalty and eventually to abolish it altogether.
While acknowledging partial positive developments, such as the gradual improvement of the situation of persons with disabilities, we share your opinion that a fundamental change of the oppressive legal system in Belarus is needed, which would allow for Belarusian citizens to participate in public life and political decision-making without restrictions and fear form retaliation.

Mr. Special Rapporteur, we would like to thank you for your valuable work.