The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2026.
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Belarus. Delivered at the 63rd Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Mr Vice President,
The United Kingdom thanks the Group of Independent Experts for its update.
We remain deeply concerned by the systematic repression of fundamental freedoms in Belarus. Arbitrary arrest and detention, politically motivated prosecutions, torture and ill-treatment all remain tools to silence dissent, while independent media, civil society and trade unions continue to face severe restrictions.
We welcome the recent release of political prisoners. However, these releases do not address the structures that enable repression, and many others remain unjustly detained. We call for their immediate and unconditional release, full rehabilitation, and access to effective remedy.
We are particularly concerned by the continued use of incommunicado detention, denial of adequate medical care, and intimidation of prisoners’ families.
The United Kingdom continues to support the UN’s accountability mandates and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus, which collects and preserves evidence of alleged crimes under international law. We will continue working with partners to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and victims receive justice.
We ask the Group of Experts: how can States best strengthen accountability pathways while ensuring that victims, survivors and Belarusian civil society remain central to these efforts?