GENEVA (21 February 2011) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Monday expressed deep concern at the harsh sentencing of Vasil Parfyankou in the first of dozens of trials against opposition leaders and supporters in Belarus.

Parfyankou was arrested while participating in a rally protesting the outcome of the presidential elections on 19 December. He was found guilty of participating in mass disorder and sentenced to four years in a top security jail.

“The prosecution and sentencing are particularly troubling given that he, together with dozens of other opposition activists, is facing trial for exercising his right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” Pillay said.

“The continued detention of political opponents, harassment of civil society and intimidation of the independent media are serious human rights violations.”

Between 30 and 40 of those individuals detained following the 19 December crackdown on protestors remain in custody, many in the special detention centre of the KGB of Belarus. While some prominent opposition figures and journalists have been released, and some put under house arrest, more detentions and arrests took place at the beginning of this year.

Pillay noted that the length and conditions of pre-trial detention in Belarus do not comply with the standards stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. She cited in particular that the power to extend pre-trial detention lies with a prosecutor rather than a judge.

“We have also received reports of the continued intimidation of lawyers who provide legal counsel to the detainees and journalists,” she said, noting that the Justice Ministry of Belarus has reportedly cancelled the licences of at least three defence attorneys who defended opposition leaders and a journalist.

Acts of harassment and political and administrative pressure against human rights defenders and NGOs also continue, she noted, including arrests, interrogation, office raids, confiscation of material, and intimidation designed to prevent contact with international and intergovernmental organizations.

“Human rights defenders should be able to do their work in a safe environment without putting themselves at risk and without fear of reprisals, intimidation, threats or stigmatization,” the High Commissioner said.

“Indeed, I have stressed before to the Belarus Government and I shall say it again: states have a duty to protect human rights defenders, journalists and civil society from threats, retaliation or pressure stemming from the legitimate exercise of their work in defence of human rights.”

The High Commissioner reiterated her calls for the immediate release of political detainees, including the remaining presidential candidates. She also urged the Government to take seriously its international commitments pertaining to human rights, noting in particular its lack of due cooperation with the Human Rights Committee, which monitors implementation of the ICCPR.

END

See previous statement on Belarus by the High Commissioner:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=10608&LangID=E

OHCHR country page - Belarus:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/ENACARegion/Pages/BYIndex.aspx

Read the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm

See the website of the Human Rights Committee:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/index.htm

Read the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders :
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/docs/declaration/declaration.pdf

Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact: Ravina Shamdasani (Tel: +41 22 917 9310 / Mob: +41 79 618 3430 / email: rshamdasani@ohchr.org)