Summary

The present report is submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 29/17.

The Special Rapporteur focuses on human rights in electoral processes in Belarus, especially in the context of the parliamentary elections held on 11 September 2016. He explores the patterns of purposeful and systemic human rights violations that had led to Belarus being the only country in Europe in the past decade that had no opposition members elected to its parliament. He analyses why the elections held in September have not brought improvements in the underlying oppressive governance of human rights and the Government’s full control over the election outcomes, despite the admittance to the parliament of two government-independent candidates.

The Special Rapporteur concludes that the environment in which elections are held in Belarus remains non-compliant with the international human rights standards recognized by Belarus. His findings underline the deprivation of a real space for citizens to express concerns in a system that has locked out from the public debate any divergent views. Respect for the freedoms of expression, association and assembly continues to be deliberately ignored, making it inappropriate to assess the election as being fair or transparent.

The absence of a set of norms and procedures surrounding elections that is compatible with human rights, the lack of restraining elements in the exercise of power by the executive branch and a both de jure and de facto ineffective parliament in Belarus show that, while regularly held, elections have become mere symbolic reinstating ceremonies of the incumbent authority with no chance for the will of voters to transpire.

The Special Rapporteur therefore makes recommendations to improve the human rights situation in Belarus in line with the country’s international obligations.