UN Human Rights Committee to consider complaint by Salihorsk human rights defender

A complaint submitted by human rights activist Leanid Markhotka to challenge a ban on a street protest imposed by the authorities of Salihorsk in December 2014 will be considered by the UN Human Rights Council.

In accordance with the Committee’s Rules of Procedure, a copy of the complaint has been sent to the Belarusian authorities for official comments within six months. Given the large number of complaints, the consideration and the adoption of a final decision in the case may take several years.

Earlier, Leanid Markhotka exhausted all domestic remedies, but was unable to restore his rights at the national level. As a result, the human rights activist asked the Committee to recognize a violation by Belarus of his rights in accordance with Part 2, Article 19 (right to freedom of expression) and Article 21 (right of peaceful assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The human rights activist wants the Committee to recommend that Belarus provided him with an effective remedy, including the reimbursement of costs and compensation for the damage caused by the violation of his rights.