United Nations Human Rights Council
59th Regular Session
Item 4
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus
26 June 2025
Joint Oral Statement
The International Bar Association, the International Commission of Jurists and Lawyers Rights Watch Canada reiterate our condemnation of the ongoing repression of civil society in Belarus, in particular the systematic reprisals against lawyers representing political opposition figures or acting in defence of human rights or the rule of law.
We deplore the full subordination of the judiciary to executive control and attacks against independent lawyers representing dissenting voices. We are particularly concerned by the erosion of institutional independence of the legal profession in Belarus, notably through the Ministry of Justice’s interference in licensing and disciplinary procedures, and the Bar Association’s failure to protect its members.
While we acknowledge the recent release of 14 political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski, too many others remain arbitrarily detained, and systemic persecution of those exercising dissent persists. We call for the immediate release of Maksim Znak, arbitrarily detained and held incommunicado since 2020, as well as lawyers Danilevich, Braginiec, Lazarenka, Yurhilevich, and Barodka, convicted in unfair trials. Belarus, as a party to the CAT and the ICCPR, is bound by its international obligations to respect and ensure the right to fair trial, freedom from torture and ill-treatment, and the independence of the legal profession.
We urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all individuals arbitrarily detained for political reasons, including lawyers, and end their further persecution.
This statement was delivered by:
Francesca Restifo
Senior Human Rights Lawyer and UN Representative
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
For further information, please contact Francesca Restifo, IBAHRI, francesca.restifo@int-bar.org
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The full ICJ statement is available for download here.
