HRC63 - NB8 Statement - ID with Group of Experts on Belarus

63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 4 - Interactive dialogue with Group of Experts on Belarus
Statement delivered by Estonia on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States
18 September 2026

Mr President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States.

We thank the Group of Independent Experts for your relentless work to document the systemic human rights violations and abuses in in Belarus. We reaffirm our full support for your mandate.

There are still at least 890 political prisoners and recent releases are merely symbolic (as the prisoners’ legal status remains unchanged).

We express concern over new arrests (and re-arrests) and restrictions on the human rights and freedoms of those who have been released, as well as over forced expulsion and  deportation of former political prisoners.

We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and urge Belarus to end all forms of repression.

We strongly condemn persecution of exiled Belarusians, including (widespread) harassment, asset freezes, in absentia trials, and other forms of transnational repression.

Anti-extremism and anti-terrorism laws which are used to criminalize dissent and independent media must be repealed.

Belarus must comply with its obligations under international human rights law.

This summer, once again, we have witnessed Belarus using migration as a tool of political pressure. The instrumentalization of persons in vulnerable situations for political purposes is unacceptable and must cease.

What else can international community do to sustain scrutiny and documentation of human rights violations in Belarus?

I thank you