UN Human Rights Office Urges Immediate Release of Belarus Opposition Activist

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights demanded the immediate release of opposition figures and journalists arrested in Belarus on the 25th (local time).

Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN Geneva office, stated at a virtual press briefing, "We demand the immediate release of Raman Pratasevich and his Russian girlfriend Sofiya Sapega who was traveling with him, and they must all be allowed to continue their journey to their originally intended destination."

He added, "Punishing journalists solely because they are critical of the government can never be considered a legitimate restriction on freedom of expression," and "Such abuse of state power must be strongly condemned."

In particular, he expressed concern, saying, "I want to be assured that Pratasevich is being treated humanely and is not subject to abuse or torture," and "Considering the bruises on his face shown on state TV last night (the 24th), the fact that his appearance did not seem voluntary, and strong suspicions that his 'confession' to serious crimes was coerced, I am not reassured."

Earlier, Alexander Lukashenko, president of the former Soviet state Belarus, forcibly landed a passenger plane from Athens, Greece, at Minsk airport, the capital of Belarus, on the 23rd, deploying fighter jets to arrest Pratasevich who was on board.

Belarus claimed that the emergency landing was due to a terror threat against the passenger plane.

However, immediately after landing, Pratasevich was arrested at Minsk airport, sparking intense international criticism that Belarusian authorities hijacked the passenger plane to detain him.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.