Cichanoŭskaja aide: Belarusians totally defenseless, can’t reach out to international institutions

October 31, BPN. Belarusians are now “absolutely defenseless in terms of protecting their rights,” Franak Viačorka, an adviser to Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, has told reporters in Vilnius.

He was commenting on Belarus’ withdrawal from the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The withdrawal blocked citizens from filing individual complaints with the UN about their rights being violated.

Viačorka said Cichanoŭskaja’s team raised the issue with the office of the UN’s rights commissioner, the Human Rights Council, and the office of the world’s top diplomat, António Guterres.

“[Alaksandr] Łukašenka deliberately protects himself, tries to eliminate possible tools of influence and pressure on him,” Viačorka said. “Belarusians are absolutely defenseless now: Belarusian courts are under the control of the regime; Belarusians cannot appeal to any international institution that would be able to stand up for them.”