UN Experts Urge Belarus to Pardon Elderly Political Prisoners and Address Human Rights Violations

The independent experts received a list of 63 persons over the age of 60, including 15 women, detained in Belarus for real or suspected political opposition.

UN experts today called on Belarusian authorities to pardon or remit the sentences of all elderly individuals imprisoned on political charges.

The independent experts received a list of 63 persons over the age of 60, including 15 women, detained in Belarus for real or suspected political opposition. Many of these individuals are serving sentences of up to 25 years, are in pretrial detention, or have been subjected to compulsory psychiatric care. Several suffer from chronic or severe illnesses, and some are persons with disabilities. Notably, three prisoners over 60 are reportedly held incommunicado.

Some of these older detainees are also listed as extremists or terrorists, notorious lists that often include political opposition members and human rights defenders. "These lists are infamous for targeting political opposition and human rights advocates," the experts said.

"Inmates on these lists face various forms of ill-treatment, including incommunicado detentions, denial of prompt and adequate medical care, and restrictions on correspondence and money transfers," the mandate holders noted. "One detainee, aged 67, has been held incommunicado since February 2023 and may be a victim of enforced disappearance."

On June 20, 2024, the Belarusian parliament adopted a law proposing amnesty for pension-age individuals (63 years for men and 58 years for women). However, this amnesty excludes prisoners convicted of offenses such as gross violation of public order, actions aimed at harming national security, creation of and participation in extremist formations, slander against the President, or discrediting Belarus, which are often used for politically motivated prosecutions. The amnesty also does not apply to those listed as involved in terrorist and extremist activities.

The experts highlighted the incompatibility of Belarus's counter-terrorism and extremism legal framework with international human rights law, noting its frequent misuse to persecute political opponents, civil society activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.

"We reiterate our call for Belarus to align its legislation with international obligations and release all individuals unfairly convicted for exercising their human rights, such as freedom of speech, association, and assembly," they said. They also called for the prohibition of discrimination based on political opinion and the extension of amnesty to all older individuals imprisoned on political charges.

The experts have communicated with the Belarusian Government on this issue.