{"id":131395,"date":"2025-03-24T19:55:46","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T16:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/131395\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"rights-groups-call-for-pressure-on-lukasenka-ahead-of-his-inauguration","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/131395\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups call for pressure on \u0141uka\u0161enka ahead of his inauguration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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March 24, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The international community should \u201cuse all available diplomatic means\u201d to put pressure on Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and his officials, says a joint statement by 10 Belarusian rights groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Released ahead of the swearing-in ceremony that \u0141uka\u0161enka scheduled for tomorrow, the statement stresses that the presidential election held earlier this year did not meet international standards for democratic and free elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka extended his 30-year rule in Belarus amid a profound human rights crisis, in an atmosphere of total fear as reprisals kept targeting civil society, independent media, opposition and all regime critics, rights defenders noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The signatories also warned against measures that could support or strengthen the current government in Minsk, urging the international community to focus on Belarusian sovereignty and consider the interests of Belarus’ civil society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian ruler and his officials bear full responsibility for human rights violations in the country, some of which may qualify as crimes against humanity, the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criminal persecution of people for political reasons, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, abuse of freedom of speech, assembly and association cannot go unpunished and should be subject to judicial proceedings both internationally and domestically, it noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk should release all political prisoners, review politically motivated sentences and stop reprisals, rights defenders stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The signatories include the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian PEN, Human Constanta, the Viasna Human Rights Center, the Barys Zvozska\u016d Human Rights House, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Lawtrend, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Respect-Protect-Fulfill, the Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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