UN Human Rights Committee says Statkievič’s appeal received

February 1, BPN. The UN Human Rights Committee has confirmed that it has received jailed Belarusian politician Mikałaj Statkievič’s appeal against violations of his rights, Statkievič’s wife Maryna Adamovič says.

“Into the last car of a departing train… The Human Rights Committee has confirmed that it has received Mikałaj Statkievič’s complaint that his rights were violated under the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Belarus denounced an optional protocol to the covenant in October (surprising, isn’t it?), but this won’t prevent the committee from hearing a claim submitted ahead of the decision coming into force [on February 8, 2023],” Adamovič said.

The leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) was arrested in Minsk on May 31, 2020.

On December 14, 2021 he was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for organization of “mass riots.” On November 4, 2022 the interior ministry added his name to the register of persons involved in extremist activities.

Belarusian human rights defenders say his persecution is politically motivated.