Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the situation of political prisoners in Belarus and international efforts to secure their release with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
The meeting took place on February 14. The sides reviewed the process of releasing political prisoners, humanitarian initiatives by the United States, as well as the condition and needs of people who have been released from places of detention. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that Washington’s humanitarian steps should be supported and continued, while at the same time it is necessary to push for systemic changes in the policies of the current authorities.
Special attention was paid to the problem of the forced deportation of those who have been released. Tsikhanouskaya noted that many of them are deprived of documents and the possibility of returning home, and also face the risk of renewed persecution. She подчеркнула that the international community must seek not only the release of people, but also a complete end to repression.
In addition, the participants discussed UN communication with Minsk on the issue of releasing political prisoners and a possible visit by the High Commissioner to Belarus, the press service of the democratic leader reported.
