View of the capital of Belarus, Minsk. Belarus: UN experts welcome the release of political prisoners, but warn of violations of their rights Human rights
The UN Group of Independent Experts on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus has welcomed the release of political prisoners in the country over the past year. However, in a report presented on Friday, experts warned that the subsequent forced deportation of those released abroad is a serious violation of human rights.
While the release of people detained for political reasons is a positive step, the conditions of their release are of serious concern, the report says. Forced expulsions and arbitrary deportations are a clear violation of international human rights standards, experts say.
“We call on the government of Belarus to respect its human rights obligations and immediately and unconditionally release all persons deprived of their liberty for political reasons,” said Karinna Moskalenko, chair of the Group of Independent Experts.
“The international community must ensure the protection of all citizens of Belarus, including those in exile, and initiate legal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators,” she added.
The report documents the government’s strategy to suppress dissent, including arbitrary arrests and routine torture and ill-treatment of detainees.
Experts are particularly concerned about the deaths of at least eight people who have been in places of detention since May 2020 Some of these deaths could have been prevented if not for harsh conditions and denial of adequate medical care, the report’s authors say.
They also note that punitive measures are often used against women and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Experts report that citizens of Belarus cannot feel safe even after traveling abroad. The report documents how government authorities persecute people in exile, using administrative procedures as a tool of pressure and effectively depriving them of legal status and security outside the country.
“This strategy became evident after the release of some prisoners in 2025,” said Monica Platek, a member of the Panel of Experts. According to her, the authorities forcibly deported them abroad and deprived them of their identity documents. The report also reports forced deportations of foreign nationals upon release.
At least 1 131 people in Belarus are reportedly still being held on politically motivated charges.
Experts note that those responsible for human rights violations are not brought to justice and, in a “culture of impunity,” violations continue.
They call on the international community to take decisive measures to ensure international protection for Belarusians in exile. In addition, experts recommend initiating legal proceedings against those responsible within the framework of universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction.