UN Human Rights Committee to consider complaint by Hrodna defender Viktar Sazonau

The UN Human Rights Committee admitted to consideration a complaint by Viktar Sazonau, a human rights defender from Hrodna, Radio Racyja reports. The complaint relates to an administrative case, in which Viktar Sazonau, together with two more human rights defenders of the HRC “Viasna” and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel, received large fines. They were convicted only for being photographed with a portrait of imprisoned human rights activist Ales Bialiatski.

“Our complaint has been registered, in the first place it was admitted for consideration, we will be in touch, and over time a decision will be taken. This is primarily a moral claim, and most importantly, we have no doubt that it will be positive for the reason that I think this nobody doubts: neither those who tried us, nor those who trumped up the charges, because all its absurdity is obvious,” says Mr. Sazonau.

Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel are yet to receive written responses from the Human Rights Committee. For Belarusian citizens, the UN Human Rights Committee is the ultimate authority to protect their rights.