Human Rights Watch Presents Report on Politically Motivated Persecution of Human Rights Lawyers in Belarus

On May 27, 2024, human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report on crackdown on human rights lawyers in Belarus.

HRW stated that the persecution of Belarusian lawyers handling politically motivated cases "grossly violates the guarantees provided by international standards for the functioning of lawyers and Belarus's international human rights obligations." The international human rights standards of particular concern include the 1990 UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which encompass freedom of expression and independence, as well as the right to legal counsel, fair trial, and effective access to legal aid as stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The report's recommendations include a call to the Belarusian government to "immediately cease the systematic detention and persecution of all individuals peacefully exercising their rights and freedoms." It also urges the Belarusian Republican Bar Association and regional bar associations to halt the persecution of lawyers. Additionally, HRW calls on international organizations to provide support and refrain from cooperation with the Republican Bar Association. The recommendations also extend to bar associations in Europe, Canada, and the USA to "privately and publicly express concern over government interference in the work of lawyers in Belarus."

HRW advises UN member states, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the European Union to refrain from any cooperation with the Republican Bar Association and regional bar associations until they become independent self-governing bodies representing the interests of Belarusian lawyers. Furthermore, HRW recommends considering the imposition of coordinated, targeted sanctions against officials of the Ministry of Justice and leaders of the Belarusian Bar Association responsible for systematic and widespread abuses against lawyers.