UN experts accuse Belarus of systematic crimes against humanity

A United Nations panel has accused the Belarusian government of orchestrating a state-sanctioned campaign of mass torture and arbitrary detention that amounts to crimes against humanity.

The independent expert group told a high-level briefing in Geneva that the repression has intensified, now targeting exiled dissidents across European borders.

Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for documenting the abuses, but warned that conditions inside the country continue to deteriorate.

"Repression now extends far beyond our borders into exile communities," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for coordinated global action to protect political prisoners.

The expert group, led by Karina Moskalenko, has spent six years documenting systemic violations in Belarus following the country's disputed 2020 presidential election.

Moskalenko said the scale of the abuses points to a deliberate state policy, with investigators identifying key perpetrators including President Alexander Lukashenko and top officials.

"These violations are widespread and systematic," Moskalenko said. "They warrant individual criminal responsibility under international law."

The panel also heard from Ales Bialiatski, the Nobel laureate and human rights defender, who described how activists are forced to operate underground.

Bialiatski said citizens face immediate arrest for minor social media activity, while most non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been outlawed as "extremist" groups.

Despite the crackdown, Bialiatski's organisation, Viasna, has expanded its operations from exile to continue documenting violations and supporting victims.

To prepare for future prosecutions, the International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB) has gathered thousands of testimonies using survivor-centred methods.

"Our priority is the collection and verification of rigorous evidence," said Gerald Bear of the platform, noting that files are being shared with international bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Panellists warned that the government in Minsk is increasingly using "transnational repression" to silence critics who have fled.

Exiled activists face trials in absentia, surveillance, threats to relatives remaining in Belarus, and the withholding of essential consular services.

Legal adviser Leanid Marozau warned that the recent release of a small number of political prisoners did not signal reform, as arrests continue daily.

"The international community must maintain pressure, refuse to accept fabricated Interpol notices, and provide urgent support to those fleeing the regime," Marozau said.