Belarusian Helsinki Committee informs UN about harassment of lawyers

The human rights organization Belarusian Helsinki Committee has directed a message concerning the pressure rendered by the Belarusian authorities against the lawyers who defend the accused and the suspects in the organization and participation in the mass disturbances on 19 December, as well as on other facts of harassment and intimidation of lawyers, to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul. The BHC Chairman Aleh Hulak has informed BelaPAN about this.

‘We have directed the information about the problems and pressure which our lawyers face, especially the lawyers who defend the ex-presidential candidates, to Gabriela Knaul. We have also informed her about the cancellation of Valiantsina Busko's licence because she was detained on Nezalezhnastsi Square on 19 December. We have paid special attention to the lawyer of Sviatlana Baikova Mikhail Vouchak, who is now under a criminal case for disclamation of the investigation materials,’ said Mr. Hulak.

He hopes that the involvement of the UN special rapporteur will become an additional mechanism to protect lawyers from the pressure.’The special rapporteur has a right to address to the Belarusian authorities asking for explanations. I hope this will become a restrictive factor for the authorities, and they will conduct no more repressions against lawyers and grant them the right for defense,’ stated the BHC Chairman.