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UN Security Council High Level Arria Formula Briefing on

Independent Media in

on 22 January 2021

Statement by Mr. Pavel Latushka, Member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council of Belarus, Head

of the National Anti-Crisis Management

Mr.Chairman, Your Excellencies, Honorble Participants

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the governments of Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the United

Kingdom and the United States of America, and their additional co-sponsors, for arranging this high-level

briefing on the critical issue of media freedoms in Belarus.

My remarks aim to put the struggle for the freedom of information in the wider political context and to

highlight the essential role of independent media that show the abuses, perpetrated by the Lukashenka

regime.

Honourable participants,

It is well known that a person who seeks to accumulate excessive power, targets those who will shine a

spotlight on these efforts. Someone, who evades transparency and accountability domestically, is more likely

to act in ways that can threaten international peace and security.

Therefore I welcome the initiative to strengthen links between the UN Human Rights Council and Security

Council in that area.

Belarus has consistently been ranked in the lower levels of the World Press Freedom Index, rated as ‘not

free’ by Freedom House and considered by the Committee to Protect Journalists to be amongst the

top ten most censored countries in the world.

We have just heard the vivid examples of journalists' repression, presented by . I

may add that in October last year authorities in Belarus deprived all foreign journalists of accreditation, 2

dozens of them were deported, the arrested journalists spent 1200 days in the belarusian prisons. This was

part of a systematic campaign by Lukashenka’s regime

However, the sad truth is that independent journalists are not the only group facing systematic persecution

in Belarus. The repression of citizens peacefully protesting has affected every single sector of Belarusian

society – women, students, doctors, sportsmen, scientists, actors, musicians, etc. One awful example is the

case of Elizaveta Bursova . An 87 year old grandmother and holocaust survivor was convicted of

‘unauthorised mass action’ for flying the former national flag on her balcony. Here we should express once

again our support and solidarity with the illegally jailed journalists and all 189 persons considered to be

political prisoners.

Your Excellencies, Honorable participants

It is clear to me and all the members of the Co-ordination Council that this repression will not stop without

international scrutiny and pressure. Independent media plays a critical role in helping raise these problems.

In this regard I support the proposals to bring Belarus on the formal agenda of the UN Security Council.

We would also like to invite the Security Council to analyse the brutal actions of the illegitimate regime

of Lukashenka inside and outside of Belarus (killings, tortures, concentration camps, disappearances,

etc.) in the context of the definition of the state terrorism which might at a later stage be rIferred to the

International Criminal Court. We know some people would like to portray what is happening in Belarus in

a way, that fits their own agenda but which does not reflect the reality on the ground.

I would like to ask these people, belarusian diplomats at UN:

The first We saw the video of premeditated killings in Belarus

There is no one case opened

Is it law or law violation?

The second Thousand people were tortured. Were submitted applications with video proves.

Again - There is no one case opened.

Is it law or law violation?

The third More than 32000 detentions and arrests today and every day more. 3

Is it marginal part of society?

The forth 500 journalists detained and arrested not 5 but 500

Is it freedom of speech?

9 Journalists are in prison now.

Several examples: Katerina Borisevich. Internet portal tut.by. Told the truth about death of Roman

Bondarenko and there is already 3 months she is in prison. Meanwhile supposed to be suspected in

crime Baskov the Chaiman of Hockey Federation is walking calmly on the street and make selfie with

Lukashenko, and another Lukashenko spokesperson supposed to be suspected Natalia Eismont serves

bliny to dictator on TV. Again – no criminal case is opened.

Katerina Andreyeva. She made on-line stream. Also in prison It is the same when journalist for

example from CNN make stream from Capitol USA is detained and imprisoned.

Is it freedom of speech?

Ihar Losik – blogger – 6 months in prison.

Every month his criminal records getting bigger and wider, today he already has 3 criminal cases. He

is on hunger strike. Today is the 38 day he denies to eat. His life is in danger.

The fifth Journalists are highlighting meetings on the streets and they are imprisoned for participation.

Journalists stopped to wear jackets with the word “press” on their back because they are shoot to kill.

The last but not the list

The sixths Deputy minister of internal affairs Karpenkov in his audio gives the order to shoot to kill,

to shoot in face, create concentration camps

Do I need to comment it?

May be my former college Ambassador Rybakov will explain the world that all it is in frames of

Declaration of human Rights? So, then I will offer to gift him a book of declaration of human rights

printed on black paper with white words. And every time while entering UN Head Quarters he passes

exams by telling by heart articles of mentioned declaration. 4

Let’s admit and tell to the whole world that there is terroristic regime in Belarus that destroys people

just for the right to speak.

What can United Nation do with all that?

Thank you for your kind attention.