The United Kingdom is following closely developments in
Belarus, in particular as the country prepares for the
Presidential election in August.
In our statement of 21 May to the Permanent Council, we
expressed our concern over the arrest and detention of over
100 people, including independent journalists, social media
actors, human rights defenders and peaceful protestors.
Since then we have continued to witness the harassment and
detention of individuals who have been attempting to enjoy
their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the
right to freedom of expression, of association and of
peaceful assembly.
To date, over 400 people have been detained or arrested,
with many facing administrative penalties, such as fines,
and some facing criminal charges. Those detained include a
number of journalists and media workers who were attempting
to report on public gatherings, as well as social media
actors. As the Representative on Freedom of the Media said
in his statement of 20 June, “journalists play a crucial
role in covering events of public interest, particularly
those related to elections”. We echo his call “to ensure
that journalists are able to do their work, to cover and
report on public gatherings without fear of being
detained.”
Mr Chairman,
Thirty years ago, OSCE participating States solemnly
declared that free elections are essential to the full
expression of the inherent dignity and of the equal and
inalienable rights of all human beings. As the Copenhagen
Document sets out:
“The participating States declare that the will of the
people, freely and fairly expressed through periodic and
genuine elections, is the basis of the authority and
legitimacy of all government. The participating States will
accordingly respect the right of their citizens to take
part in the governing of their country, either directly or
through representatives freely chosen by them through fair
electoral processes.”
In the 1999 Istanbul Summit Declaration, States further
committed “to ensure fair competition among candidates as
well as parties, including through their access to the
media and respect for the right of assembly”.
The United Kingdom is therefore concerned by the detention
of Viktar Babaryka, one of the potential presidential
candidates, and his son Eduard Babaryka, his campaign
manager, on 19 June. We also note with concern the
investigation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs into the
alleged involvement of another presidential candidate,
Valery Tsapkala, in “illegal activities”. We call on the
Belarusian authorities to release Mr Babaryka and his son
from pre-trial detention and to respect the rule of law,
including the right to a fair trial. We also call on the
Belarusian authorities to release members of the opposition
and civil society who have been subject to arbitrary arrest
and detention.
Finally, we remind Belarus of the longstanding commitment
to invite observers to elections from other participating
States, ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and
appropriate institutions and organizations that wish to
observe. We call on Belarus to take steps to ensure that
international election observers, including from ODIHR and
other organisations, are able to observe the upcoming
elections, and in doing so support the democratic
development of the State.
The United Kingdom reiterates our support for Belarus’
independence and sovereignty. It is a matter for the people
of Belarus to determine their future and how they are
governed. As a friend of the Belarusian people, we urge the
authorities to take the measures necessary to hold a safe,
peaceful, free and fair election, including through the
participation of independent observers.
