BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

20/12/2007

UN Urges Belarus To Release Political Prisoners

The UN General Assembly on December 18 voted 72 to 33, with 78 abstentions, to adopt a U.S.-initiated resolution criticizing the deteriorating human-rights situation in Belarus and urging the government immediately to release all political prisoners, Belapan reported. The resolution affirms that "the situation of human rights in Belarus in 2007 continued to significantly deteriorate." The document cites the "severely flawed" presidential election in March 2006 "due to arbitrary use of state power" and the government's failure to ensure that local elections in January 2007 met international standards. The resolution expresses "deep concern" over the government's continued use of the criminal justice system to silence political opponents and human rights defenders and over reports of harassment and closure of nongovernmental organizations, national minority and religious groups, opposition political parties, independent media outlets, trade unions, and student organizations. The document calls on Belarusian authorities "to release immediately and unconditionally all individuals detained for politically motivated reasons and other individuals detained for exercising or promoting human rights." AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/12/3-cee/cee-201207.asp