UN Human Rights Committee rules against Žlobin officials

At its 114th session (held on June 29 - July 24 in Geneva), the UN Human Rights Committee took a decision in the case of a representative of the Homieĺ Center for Strategic Litigation, human rights activist from Žlobin Valiantsin Yauzrezau. The international experts did not agree with the Belarusian officials who did not allow the author to stage a protest against the persecution of a former presidential candidate Aliaksandr Kazulin in 2007.

Head of the Center for Strategic Litigation Leanid Sudalenka stresses that the UN Human Rights Committee has lately taken dozens decisions on complaints prepared by the organization. This is a result of the Center’s systematic work in conducting strategic litigation aimed at both changing the national laws and their application, which lead to violations of civil and political rights of the Belarusian citizens.

“The Žlobin district executive committee did not allow Valiantsin Yauzrezau, along with other activists, to hold a picket in support of former presidential candidate Aliaksandr Kazulin, who at the time was in prison. The officials argued that the purpose of the picket contradicted a court verdict which had sent the politician to prison. We have proved the opposite – by banning a mass event according to its subject the officials each time violate the right to peaceful assembly,” says the human rights activist.

Based on the decision, the government of Belarus is now obliged to provide the victim of violations with “an effective remedy, including full compensation for material costs and adequate rehabilitation”, as well as the obligation “to prevent similar violations in the future.” The government should publish the decision in the public media including in the Belarusian language and execute it within 180 days.

Source: gomelspring.org