MINSK, 5 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian mission to the United Nations Organization and other international organizations in Geneva in association with the Russian diplomatic mission has organized a parallel online event to draw attention to the government policy of discrimination against national minorities in the Baltic states and Ukraine as part of the campaign meant to highlight violations of human rights in Western countries and a number of other countries, BelTA has learned.
The online event was organized on the sidelines of the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Experts and representatives of a number of countries took part in the online event.
In his speech Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Yuri Ambrazevich mentioned the importance of evaluating the human rights situation in all countries objectively and from the same angle, including the usage of special tools of the UN Human Rights Council.
The Belarusian diplomat pointed out that national monitories in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have been suffering from ethnic nationalism for over 30 years already. In particular, rights of the Russian-speaking population, which makes up a considerable part of the population of these Baltic states, are infringed. Among other things voting rights of the Russian-speaking population are restricted. They cannot work as civil servants or lawyers. The discrimination policy also applies to housing, education, healthcare, access to services vital for an adequate life and for satisfying cultural rights.
Despite concern and recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, despite criticism in regional organizations, including the OSCE and the Council of Europe, the governments of the Baltic states continue pursuing the discriminatory policy without any changes. Yuri Ambrazevich mentioned the lack of a visible public response of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and procedures meant to respond to violations of human rights as a reason behind the continued violations.
For instance, the special rapporteur on minority issues has never visited these countries. “We are convinced that in light of massive violations of rights of national minorities the special rapporteur should arrange a visit as soon as possible,” the Belarusian diplomat stressed.
In turn, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Nikita Zhukov reminded that human rights are universal and indivisible. He noted that certain Western countries claim to fight for democracy and are trying to lecture other countries about human rights while turning a blind eye towards violations in their own territories and in the territories of their allies. UN bodies are involved in it. The politicized approach undermines respect for the relevant institutions. “We intend to fill this gap and present a real picture of violations of human rights,” he said.
Nikita Zhukov remarked that the pandemic had deteriorated old problems such as racism, xenophobia, hate speech, discrimination against national and religious minorities.
As for the Baltic states, the diplomat pointed out that they use a broad range of tools to oppress Russian-speaking people and mass media, including the blocking of Internet content, the prohibition for reporters to enter countries, the stripping of official accreditation, the closure of bank accounts, and so on. Similar things happen in education where Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have been systematically working to get rid of the Russian language for many years.
Nikita Zhukov is also worried about the situation in Ukraine where he said human rights and freedoms are systematically violated while Kiev authorities cannot handle the relevant challenges. Among other things the Russian diplomat mentioned illegal arrests and coerced confessions. “Persecution of political opponents, independent reporters and mass media, public organizations that do not support the government has become a regular occurrence,” he said.
Apart from that, Nikita Zhukov drew attention to actions of radical nationalistic groups, which illegal actions remain unpunished. The diplomat noted that racist and anti-Semitic propaganda and xenophobia are on the rise in Ukraine.
Speaking about violations of rights of national minorities, Nikita Zhukov reminded about the language-based discrimination against a considerable part of the Ukrainian population.
