Statement by Sweden in the HRC Urgent Debate on the situation of human rights in Belarus

Madam President,

Sweden aligns itself with the statement by the EU and the joint Nordic statement. We thank the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur for the information and the panellists for their testimonies.

The election on 9 August was neither free nor fair. Therefore, we do not recognise the results.

Sweden is alarmed by the human rights violations, which include arbitrary detention, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment of and brutal violence against opposition and peaceful protesters, committed by the Belarusian authorities. The arrests and the forced exile of opposition leaders is a serious attempt to undermine the democratic will of the people to exercise their rights.

All those arbitrarily detained must be immediately and unconditionally released. We urge the Belarusian authorities to fulfil their obligations under international human rights law and to hold those responsible for violations accountable. As a party to the ILO Core Conventions, Belarus must immediately end politically motivated prosecution of members of labour unions and strike committees.

Sweden stands in solidarity with the people in Belarus in their desire to exercise their human rights, and their demand for new and democratic elections. We continue to call on the Belarusian leadership to initiate a genuine dialogue with the Belarusian opposition.

I thank you.