OHCHR / BELARUS HUMAN RIGHTS
03-Mar-2023
00:00:43
A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office said, “We are very disturbed at the trial of these Belarusian human rights defenders. We are gravely concerned about the lack of fair trial proceedings and access to an independent judiciary in Belarus.” UNTV CH
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STORY: OHCHR / MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 00:43
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 MARCH 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
TRT: 00:43
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 MARCH 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1. Wide Shot, briefing room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“We are very disturbed at the trial of these Belarusian human rights defenders. We are gravely concerned about the lack of fair trial proceedings and access to an independent judiciary in Belarus.”
3. Med shot, briefing room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“The arbitrary arrest and detention of the Russian human rights defenders on politically motivated charges are alarming. Commissioner has called for an end to the persecution of human rights defenders and of people expressing dissenting views. And for the release of all those who have been arbitrarily detained or sentenced to various prison terms on politically motivated charges.”
5. Med shot, briefing room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“We are very disturbed at the trial of these Belarusian human rights defenders. We are gravely concerned about the lack of fair trial proceedings and access to an independent judiciary in Belarus.”
3. Med shot, briefing room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
“The arbitrary arrest and detention of the Russian human rights defenders on politically motivated charges are alarming. Commissioner has called for an end to the persecution of human rights defenders and of people expressing dissenting views. And for the release of all those who have been arbitrarily detained or sentenced to various prison terms on politically motivated charges.”
5. Med shot, briefing room
STORYLINE
At the bi-weekly press briefing on Friday (3 Mar), UN Human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani commented on the prison sentences delivered today against four human rights defenders in Belarus on smuggling and extremism-related charges.
“We are very disturbed at the trial of these Belarusian human rights defenders. We are gravely concerned about the lack of fair trial proceedings and access to an independent judiciary in Belarus,” she said.
Those sentenced were Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski who was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Three other Viasna members - Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, and Dzmitry Salauyou - were given terms of nine, seven and eight years respectively. Salauyou was tried in absentia.
The lack of independence of the judiciary and other violations of fair trial guarantees have resulted in human rights defenders in Belarus being criminally prosecuted, convicted and sentenced for their legitimate human rights work.
On 17 February, 10 members of the Workers Movement "Rabochy Rukh", including six independent trade unionists, were sentenced to between 12 to 15 years, on extremism and high treason charges. On 8 February, journalist Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The UN Human Rights office remains deeply concerned that, as of today, some 1,458 people are in detention in Belarus on politically motivated charges.
“The arbitrary arrest and detention of the Belarussian human rights defenders on politically motivated charges are alarming. The High Commissioner has called for an end to the persecution of human rights defenders and of people expressing dissenting views. And for the release of all those who have been arbitrarily detained or sentenced to various prison terms on politically motivated charges.”
“We are very disturbed at the trial of these Belarusian human rights defenders. We are gravely concerned about the lack of fair trial proceedings and access to an independent judiciary in Belarus,” she said.
Those sentenced were Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski who was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Three other Viasna members - Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, and Dzmitry Salauyou - were given terms of nine, seven and eight years respectively. Salauyou was tried in absentia.
The lack of independence of the judiciary and other violations of fair trial guarantees have resulted in human rights defenders in Belarus being criminally prosecuted, convicted and sentenced for their legitimate human rights work.
On 17 February, 10 members of the Workers Movement "Rabochy Rukh", including six independent trade unionists, were sentenced to between 12 to 15 years, on extremism and high treason charges. On 8 February, journalist Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The UN Human Rights office remains deeply concerned that, as of today, some 1,458 people are in detention in Belarus on politically motivated charges.
“The arbitrary arrest and detention of the Belarussian human rights defenders on politically motivated charges are alarming. The High Commissioner has called for an end to the persecution of human rights defenders and of people expressing dissenting views. And for the release of all those who have been arbitrarily detained or sentenced to various prison terms on politically motivated charges.”
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