The European Union, in a statement delivered on 29 June 2026 at the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, strongly condemned ongoing gross, systematic and widespread human rights violations in Belarus during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. The EU highlighted politically motivated repression, a closed civic space due to severe crackdowns on freedoms of expression, assembly and association, severe ill-treatment in detention including coercive psychiatric treatment, transnational repression, and misuse of anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation as among the numerous violations documented by independent mechanisms.
The EU expressed concern about appalling detention conditions, including incommunicado detention, restrictions on contacts with families and lawyers, disciplinary sanctions and physical punishments after suicide attempts, and denial of essential medical care. While noting the recent release of some political prisoners, the EU expressed concern about new arrests and re-arrests and restrictions on the rights and freedoms of those released. The EU reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release and effective rehabilitation of all political prisoners.
The EU urged Belarusian authorities to stop their involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, halt their instrumentalization of migrants, and immediately ensure the safe return to Ukraine of all unlawfully deported Ukrainian children. The statement also addressed violations of cultural rights through targeted repression and coercive restructuring of cultural space, education, language use, and historical narratives, where manifestations of cultural and national identity are increasingly treated as markers of political opposition to the Lukashenko regime.
The EU remained concerned about intimidation campaigns against all segments of Belarusian society and the intensifying practice of designating Belarusian cultural figures, educational actors, journalists, media workers, human rights defenders, and human rights organizations as extremist formations. The EU asked the Special Rapporteur how the international community can further contribute to efforts to document these violations and hold authorities accountable.
The statement was delivered by the Permanent Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva. It reflects the EU's consistent position on Belarus, with no prior coverage of this specific session in the last 180 days. The EU's condemnation carries diplomatic weight but does not introduce new sanctions or concrete measures, limiting its immediate impact on stakeholders. Belarusian authorities face continued international pressure, while political prisoners and civil society in Belarus remain at risk of repression. The EU's call for accountability may influence further documentation efforts by international mechanisms.