UN experts alarmed by reports of psychiatric treatment as punishment for political dissent in Belarus – JURIST

Independent UN rights experts expressed alarm Thursday about the use of forced psychiatric treatment to punish political dissenters in Belarus. The experts have stated that 33 people have been coerced into undergoing psychiatric treatment in response to political protest. Only eight people have been reportedly released, meaning at least 25 more people are involuntarily detained in psychiatric facilities in Belarus.

According to the press release from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), individuals in psychiatric facilities are deprived of liberty for indefinite periods and cannot request a pardon or release on parole. The independent experts are further concerned that psychiatric detention is being used to repress legitimate and peaceful freedom of expression, which “constitutes a grave violation of human rights and international law.” The experts called on Belarus to “immediately ensure that these individuals can access legal counsel of their choosing and are provided with effective remedies to challenge their deprivation of liberty.” 

The use of psychiatric detention is a response to the many political protests that have arisen since the 2020 elections in Belarus. In August of that year, Belarusian President Lukashenko was reelected by an 80 percent majority despite widespread political dissent. Many protestors called the election fraudulent. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran as the opposition candidate to Lukashenko, called the election “illegitimate” and a “scam.” Over 3,000 people have been convicted for protesting the election, including over 1,000 people who are considered political prisoners.