On 19 March 2024, Lawyers for Lawyers, the Law Society of England and Wales, and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute delivered an oral statement during the interactive dialogue on the interim oral update of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and its aftermath. The dialogue took place during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
As we launch our annual Case List 2023/2024, War, Persecution, and Censorship, TAKE ACTION with us for #MaksimZnak, #Belarus lawyer, academic, and writer. Znak has been held in incommunicado detention since February 2023. #FreeTheWriters: https://t.co/ofUdu4IKi7 pic.twitter.com/xWHV6QETID
— PEN International (@pen_int) March 22, 2024
The statement reads as follows:
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Lawyers for Lawyers and the Law Society of England and Wales condemn the escalating pattern of retaliation against lawyers for representing the political opposition and protesters and for upholding the rule of law.
One year has passed since the sentencing of Viasna leaders, Bialiatski, Stefanovic, and lawyer Labkovich following unfair trials and in retaliation against their human rights work.
Since August 2020, at least 134 lawyers have been deprived of their right to practice and 40 lawyers have faced arbitrary detention due to their human rights work and exercising their freedom of expression and association.
We draw particular attention to the case of lawyer Maksim Znak, arbitrarily detained since September 2020. Since 2022 held incommunicado in penal colony No. 3 near Viciebsk, denied access to his family, lawyer, and independent medical personnel.
Sources
