On 25 February 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in an interactive dialogue held online with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet Jeria, concerning her final report on the situation of human rights in Belarus.
In his statement, the Latvian Foreign Minister highlighted the continuing systematic violations of human rights in Belarus. Latvia gives its support to Belarusian civil society in various ways; this includes welcoming victims of the violence in Belarus to Latvia and offering them treatment, the Foreign Minister said. “Latvia urges Belarus to comply with its international human rights obligations and to follow recommendations included in High Commissioner Bachelet’s report. The repressive policies and violence against the civil society, human rights defenders and journalists must stop. Political opposition and peaceful protesters must be released. Relevant legislation must be introduced to ensure real protection of Belarusian people’s rights.”
Edgars Rinkēvičs called on the UN Human Rights Council to create an international accountability mechanism to address human rights violations in Belarus and to adopt a relevant resolution at the 46th session of the Council currently underway.
During the interactive dialogue, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet presented the report on the human rights situation in Belarus. The report draws attention to the deteriorating human rights in Belarus: continued unlawful detentions, violence, forced disappearance, physical and mental torture, as well as sexual violence. The report has been prepared with reference to the resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in September at the request of several countries including Latvia.