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Add to Preferred SourcesIn the wake of ongoing electoral-related unrest in Belarus, the top UN official in the country has requested an urgent meeting with authorities focused on the issue of human rights, according to a statement from her office.
Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator, has expressed serious concern over allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of people, including minors, who were detained after demonstrations connected to elections held on 9 August.
“Torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment are absolutely prohibited and can never be justified,” she said in a statement issued late last week.
While welcoming the release of many detainees, Ms. Kazana-Wisniowiecki said testimonies about their treatment in custody are “deeply troubling”, adding that “if confirmed, these reports would point to systemic problems in the management and oversight of detention facilities in Belarus.”
Thousands of people were arrested in protests that erupted across Belarus after preliminary results for the election showed President Alexander Lukashenko had secured a majority of the votes, giving him a sixth term in power.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said torture allegations must be investigated, while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, earlier condemned the violent response to the demonstrations.
The UN Resident Coordinator has requested an urgent meeting with Belarus’s Minister of Interior to discuss human rights concerns and to offer broader UN support and other assistance, according to the statement.
The authorities also are urged to take immediate measures to prevent any instances of torture or other ill-treatment in detention.
Original source: UN News