The human rights situation in Belarus: Joint Statement to the OSCE, September 2026
The UK and 37 other OSCE countries call for the release of all political prisoners and an end to repression of civil society, independent media and opposition voices.
Thank you, Mr Chair.
I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following members of the Informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ukraine and my own country Denmark.
The following participating States are also joining this statement: Albania, Austria, Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, North Macedonia, San Marino and Slovakia.
Mr. Chair, six years ago, following the August 2020 presidential election, the people of Belarus stood up for democracy, gathering peacefully to oppose a fraudulent result that betrayed their trust and democratic aspirations. But in response, the Lukashenko regime launched a brutal and systematic crackdown on peaceful protestors. Regrettably, we find ourselves repeating many of the same concerns raised last year, as little has changed in the intervening period and the situation continues to warrant our attention.
Mr. Chair, in the years since, the Belarusian authorities have continued to systematically repress fundamental freedoms and target those perceived as critical of the authorities. The latest report of the UN Special Rapporteur confirms that arbitrary detention and politically motivated prosecutions remain widespread, while “anti-extremism” and counter-terrorism legislation continues to be misused to criminalise the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
Human rights defenders, journalists, opposition figures and other civil society actors continue to face persecution, while transnational repression increasingly targets Belarusians in exile and their families.
According to the Human Rights Center Viasna, at least 10,016 people have faced criminal prosecution for political reasons since 2020, an increase of approximately 1,500 cases since last year. More than 100,000 cases of repression have been recorded in total and there are currently 886 political prisoners.
As documented in the 2023 OSCE Moscow Mechanism Report and subsequent UN reports, Belarus has failed to uphold its international human rights obligations and its OSCE commitments, including those related to holding free, fair elections and the timely invitation of OSCE/ODIHR election observers.
Moreover, Belarus’s support for Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, and instrumentalization of illegal migration and hybrid activities against its neighbours, further underscores its disregard for international peace and security, and for its OSCE commitments.
While welcoming the release of several hundred political prisoners, we remain deeply concerned of the continued politically motivated arrests and prosecutions.
Consequently the number of persons held for political reasons has again begun to rise.
Release from prison does not necessarily bring an end to repression. Former political prisoners are facing expulsions, continued surveillance, restrictions and the risk of renewed prosecution, while repression increasingly extends to Belarusians in exile and their families.
We remain deeply concerned by reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in detention, including prolonged isolation and inadequate access to medical care. This continued cycle of imprisonment and persecution must end.
We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners and urge the Belarusian authorities to end their campaign of repression. Those responsible, must be held to account.
Six years on, the courage and democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people remain undiminished. We stand firmly with the people of Belarus in their aspirations for a free, democratic and independent country.
We sincerely hope that the next year will bring tangible progress, so that we can speak of meaningful improvements rather than once again having to raise the same concerns.
I thank you.