Human Rights Day: Letter to UK Government

To: Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Stephen Doughty, Minister for Europe.

From: External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and Health Secretary Neil Gray

Today, 10 December is internationally recognised as Human Rights Day. We write to you today to draw attention to the on-going human rights abuses taking place in Belarus at the hands of the Lukashenko regime.

In our capacities as Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture and Cabinet Secretary Health and Social Care, we use our public profile to raise awareness on this issue and support political prisoners, working with NGO Libereco.

You will be aware that in recent months Lukashenko has released and pardoned 115 civilians who were unjustly imprisoned. Whilst we welcome the news of these releases, the fact remains that around 1,400 remain unfairly imprisoned and arbitrary arrest and detainment continue.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law both at home and abroad. The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns the injustices being suffered in Belarus and the abuses carried out by the Lukashenko regime.

With a presidential election due to take place in Belarus in January 2025, suppression of opposition voices and repression of democratic freedom is increasing. We therefore would urge the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Europe, as a matter of priority, to continue to put pressure on the Lukashenko regime and those in positions of power that aid the unjust imprisonment of so many, and call for the immediate release all political prisoners, and other individuals detained in connection with their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly in the post-election period, and stop political repression in the country.

We welcomed the UK Government’s announcement on 9 August of further sanctions and £2.5 million in funding to support the survival of Belarusian human rights and civil society causes. Such organisations are vital to the fight for democratic freedoms in Belarus and this support will bolster the courageous individuals who work, often under extremely difficult circumstances, to bring about change in Belarus.

Lukashenko’s pardoning of some political prisoners may be read as a softening of the regime on opposition. However, continued arrests leave Scottish Government in no doubt that the position of the regime is unchanged, and voices continuing to oppose the government will continue to be silenced.

We urge the UK Government, therefore, to sanction further individuals complicit in the unjust detention of citizens, namely;

1. Judge Uladzimir Areshka
2. Yauheni Bubich, Head of Penal Colony No.2
3. Judge Vera Halaukova
4. Judge Tatsiana Mikhailava
5. Siarhei Petrakovich, Head of Penal Colony No.9

These individuals are responsible for wrongfully imprisoning Eduard Babaryka, currently serving an 8 year sentence, and Yan Papkovich, serving a 4 year sentence, on the politically motivated grounds of curtailing opposition voices and democratic freedoms.

The UK Government has a long history of standing up for human rights in Belarus, which we applaud. We hope you will note and take action on this request and consider further how the UK Government can exert pressure on the Lukashenko regime to ensure the release of all political prisoners.

The Scottish Government stands ready to support UK Government action to bring Lukashenko, and others responsible for human rights abuses to account and we will support international efforts to this end.