A/HRC/RES/55/27
Belarusian authorities, the inhumane conditions and denial of timely and adequate medical
services and independent legal assistance for those in detention centres and prisons,
Deploring the continuing lack of independence and impartiality of the judiciary, the
denial of due process and violations of fair trial guarantees under international human rights
law, such as the continued prolonged detention of persons without any opportunity to
challenge the lawfulness of the detention and the lack of information about the charges
brought against them, and deploring also the disproportionately and increasingly severe
sentences for political prisoners, without upholding fair trial guarantees, including their right
to a fair and public hearing, as well as the intimidation, arbitrary disciplinary measures
against and disbarment of lawyers for providing services to those arrested and sentenced on
politically motivated grounds,
Seriously concerned about ongoing oppressive restrictions on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly, association and expression, both online and offline, resulting in the
prosecution, harassment, intimidation, repression and forced exile of human rights defenders,
civil society and independent media, including large-scale ordered closure or forced selfclosure of civil society organizations and all independent trade unions, arbitrary decisions to
cancel professional licences, the revocation of the accreditations of foreign media workers,
the banning of independent media outlets, the blocking of independent media websites and
Internet shutdowns, State-sponsored disinformation in Belarus, numerous raids on private
houses and offices and crackdowns against the relatives of political prisoners and those who
have left the country,
Noting with grave concern that, according to the High Commissioner and the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, some of the violations committed in
Belarus may amount to crimes against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or
systematic attack directed against the civilian population, with knowledge of the attack,
Reiterating serious concern at the ongoing use of legislation to restrict the rights to
freedom of peaceful assembly, association, expression, religion or belief, both online and
offline, and other human rights in violation of international human rights law, including the
amendments to the Law on Mass Gatherings, the Law on Mass Media, the Law on the Bar
and Legal Advocacy, the amendments to the Criminal Code, adopted in May and December
2021, May 2022 and March 2023, the Code of Administrative Offences adopted in January
2022, the amendments to the Constitution adopted in the referendum held on 27 February
2022, the amendments to the Law on Citizenship adopted in January 2023, the Presidential
Decree adopted in September 2023 on procedures for the issuance of documents and the
performance of certain actions and the law on amending laws on the activities of religious
organizations adopted in December 2023,
Noting with deep concern the increased use of “terrorism-” and “extremism-” related
legislation to intimidate, repress and prosecute organizations for expressing dissent and
individuals for exercising their fundamental freedoms,
Deploring the continuing discrimination affecting women and girls and individuals in
vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities, persons belonging to national or
ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex
persons,
Expressing profound regret that the Belarusian authorities have not fulfilled their
obligations with regard to the right of every citizen to vote and to be elected in free and fair
periodic elections, carried out through transparent and inclusive processes, in accordance
with the State’s obligations under article 25 (b) of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and noting with concern that the Belarusian authorities did not invite election
observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the
conduct of the 2024 parliamentary and local elections,
Expressing continued deep concern at the application of the death penalty in Belarus,
especially in a context where fair trial guarantees are not upheld, and at the limited amount
of relevant information with regard to its use, especially in the context of the amendments to
the Criminal Code expanding the use of the death penalty, and taking into account that
transparency is a requirement of fair and effective criminal justice,
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