HRC48: Statement of Lithuania at the Interactive Dialogue on the interim oral update of OHCHR on the situation of human rights in Belarus
Delivered by the Chargé d'Affaires of Lithuania in Geneva Mr Donatas Tamulaitis September 24, 2021
Lithuania welcomes the High Commissioner’s report, strongly supports the mandate and encourages to continue important mission.
Lithuania fully aligns itself with the statement by the European Union.
We agree with the assessment that the human rights situation in Belarus is continuously deteriorating. Widespread repressions against civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and media actors are systematically destroying NGO and civic space.
Through arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances and torture of members of civil society, Lukashenko regime is trying to silence independent voices, including women’s.
We support strengthening accountability mechanisms so that perpetrators of human rights violations would be brought to justice. We call for immediate cessation of all repressions, release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners.
Lithuania is accepting Belarussians seeking asylum because of repressions in their own country and will continue supporting its people, civil society and independent media.
Lithuania appreciates all international support in responding to Lukashenko regime’s hybrid attack against EU Member States and underlines the vulnerabilities of migrant groups the Belarus regime cynically exploits for political ends.
We urge Belarus to fully cooperate with all UN Special Procedures and human rights mechanisms.
Thank you.
