26 June 2025. Read the statement below.
Thank you, Mr President.
FIDH, OMCT and Viasna express their solidarity and their great relief over the recent liberation of 14 political prisoners, including activist and blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who has been held incommunicado for more than two years. We are deeply disheartened by his testimony, which once again confirms the systematic use of torture and inhumane treatment in Belarusian prisons.
At the same time, according to Human Rights Centre Viasna, more than 1,100 individuals remain unjustly imprisoned in Belarus, while the real figure may be significantly higher. Among them are Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice President Valiantsin Stefanovic, Viasna lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich, Viasna’s volunteer coordinator, Marfa Rabkova, and Human Constanta co-founder Nasta Loika. All of them face similar cruel and appalling conditions, often without access to legal counsel, leaving them utterly vulnerable.
In parallel, the Belarusian KGB is escalating its insidious practice of transnational persecution, harassing and threatening both exiled Belarusians abroad and their relatives remaining in the country.
We therefore strongly urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all members of Human Rights Center “Viasna”, as well as all those unlawfully imprisoned on politically motivated charges.
We also urge the international community to take all available measures to ensure accountability and justice for the crimes against humanity committed by the Belarusian authorities. This must include urgently referring the situation to the International Criminal Court.
Finally, we call on all States to provide robust protection, including visa support for Belarusians forced to flee their country, as well as their relatives who remain at risk.
I thank you.