ARRIA FORMULA ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN , SEPTEMBER 4TH 2020

STATEMENT BY SPANISH VICEMINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, IBEROAMERICAN AND CARIBEEAN COUNTRIES, MS. CRISTINA GALLACH .

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much to all the speakers, who have given us a comprehensive vision of the Human Rights situation in Belarus.

Distinguished Delegates,

It is important for the Council to be aware of the situation with first-hand information, since we cannot assume that serious, long term Human Rights violations will not eventually turn into a conflict with international implications. No one here wants that, but this is not a matter of will. Hence our support to this initiative led by Estonia.

What happens in Belarus is closely related to . We are both European States, we have a friendly bilateral relation, as well as growing economic ties. But above all we are linked through our civil societies: over 5.000 citizens of Belarus reside in Spain, a model community, perfectly well integrated in our country. Many of them have written to us these last days, concerned about the situation in their homeland.

Mr. Chairman,

From the night of the election, the situation in Belarus has been a concern, not only in Chanceries, but also for the international public opinion. A few days after the election, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Bachelet, issued a condemnation of the violent reaction of the authorities to peaceful demonstrations, as well as the constraints of to freedom of expression. The accounts we have heard today confirm our initial assessment of the situation on the ground.

The stories and figures presented by the speakers paint a portrait that we unequivocally must reject; we need to call for an end and demand thorough and complete investigation of these events.

It is important to point out that these demonstrations were spontaneously born from civil society, they are horizontal and in no way manipulated or instigated from afar. Ms. Tijanovskaya was elected as a symbol of change. And change in this instance is not a geopolitical shift; change is upholding respect to the most essential values of the Rule of Law. There is indeed no geopolitical afterthought when we demand to cease all violence, to hold an inclusive national dialogue, with free and independent media and a strong civil society. Spain definitely supports this kind of change, without any hidden agenda.

This inclusive national dialogue will not happen if the National Coordination Council is criminalized. When representatives of civil society are silenced, democracy drowns instead of thriving. One of their representatives, Mr. Pavel Latushko, is well known in Spain, where he was recently Ambassador of Belarus. Mr. Latushko has received multiple threats; his mother and daughter have had to flee the country – their own country. I would like to take this opportunity to express my solidarity with him and his family, as well as many other anonymous citizens and civil servants in Belarus, who just want to uphold the law.

Mr. Chairman

These unknown citizens, some of them unfortunately deceased in the last few weeks, have been screaming for us to listen to them. The Nobel Laureate is very familiar with “official” tales. In “The Unwomanly Face of War” she wove a tale from the daily experience of humble voices, of unknown, simple characters. I am pleased to realize that the Council does not turn its back to those voices who are today, in Belarus, asking to be heard.