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On 4 September, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius made a statement at the Security Council  Aria-formula meeting to discuss human rights in Belarus.

Mr. President,

I would like to thank Estonia for convening this important meeting and allow me to support the people of Belarus in exercising their right to free, fair and democratic elections.

Situation in Belarus after fraudulent election, that could not be recognized neither free nor fair, is a matter of our concern. We have to be clear, stating, that due to numerous violations, President of Belarus lost his legitimacy and present Belarusian authorities has proven their failure to represent interests of the people. We must be consistent in calling for peaceful transition of power and conduct new democratic election with international observation.

We have to condemn clearly severe human rights violations in Belarus and growing repression of the political opposition and civil society during and after the presidential campaign and election. Although these violations are outcomes of the systematic policies in Belarus over the past decades, but brutal manifestation of mass violence and imprisonment of peaceful demonstrators, including minors and journalists, are exceptional and warning. Institutionalised torture, enforced disappearances, alleged instances of sexual and gender-based violence, killings are the matters of concern of all international community. UN human rights Special Rapporteurs in their joint statement called on Belarus to stop torturing detainees and bring to justice police officers, responsible for the humiliation of protesters, as the prohibition against torture is absolute under international human rights law and it cannot be justified for any reason. UN Special Rapporteurs have already received reports of 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty after the disputed presidential election.

International community must react jointly, forcefully and timely to the situation on the ground and call for an independent international investigation of severe human rights violations in Belarus. As a one concrete action, we should urge an international investigation on human rights violations and crimes.

It is also necessary to secure journalists and support the activities of human rights defenders acting in Belarus and abroad, encouraging determination of the citizens of Belarus in their path to democratic transition and new election.  

Once again, Lithuania reminds Belarus to respect its international obligations and commitments to hold genuinely democratic election and to secure human rights and fundamental freedoms and to stop immediately any assault against peaceful protesters and journalists, including their unlawful detainment, imprisonment and torture.