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Minister Zbigniew Rau attends discussion on human rights and media freedom in Belarus

24.06.2021

“We urge the Belarusian authorities to release political prisoners already counted in hundreds. Among them more than twenty journalists and media workers, including Raman Pratasevich, TV Belsat journalists – Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Daria Chultsova, leaders of the Union of Poles in Belarus: Andżelika Borys and Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist himself,” said Minister Rau during a discussion on the margins of the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Minister Zbigniew Rau attends discussion on human rights and media freedom in Belarus

Minister Zbigniew Rau took part in a discussion on human rights and media freedom in Belarus. 

In his speech, the head of the Polish MFA addressed the dramatically deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, resulting from repressive actions of Belarusian authorities. He named the arrests and convictions of prominent representatives of Polish minority in Belarus and independent journalists, as well as the closure of the information portal tut.by as some of very concerning events since the last Human Rights Council session in March 2021. Minister Rau highlighted the arrest of blogger Raman Pratasievich and his partner following the forced landing of a civilian airplane, which shocked the international community. “Their later staged TV appearances and forced confessions are highly disturbing and clearly reflect inhuman treatment of both detainees,” said the top Polish diplomat speaking at the UN. He also underlined the relation between human rights and the freedom of media. “I declare Poland’s firm commitment to further assist independent media serving Belarusian people who proved in the last months their highest dedication to democratic values,” said Minister Rau.

The event was also attended by the foreign ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, among others. Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, also took part in the discussion.

MFA Press Office

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