UN rights body agrees to hold urgent debate on Belarus

The Human Rights Council agreed on Monday to hold an urgent debate on the human rights situation in Belarus, following a request from Germany which described a “steep deterioration” of the situation there since a disputed election last month.

The Council’s President Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger said 25 members of the council voted in favour and two against, with 20 abstentions, meaning the motion was adopted.

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Belarussian ambassador Yury Ambrazevich objected to the motion, submitted on behalf of the European Union, which he described as “part of a broad political campaign organised by the European Union in order to support political forces in Belarus who lost the election.”

Riot police officers detain a protester during a Belarusian opposition supporters' rally in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday on Sunday.

“...the EU is creating the conditions for preserving this political standoff in the society of Belarus,” he added.

Reuters