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UN rights chief tells Belarus to free protesters

December 4, 2020

Michelle Bachelet, the former Chilean president, warned the human rights situation in Belarus was "deterioating". She told reporters in Geneva more than 900 protesters faced criminal charges.

https://p.dw.com/p/3mDTV
Michelle Bachelet
Image: picture-alliance/Keystone/S. Di Nolfi

The UN's top human rights official called on Belarus Friday to release all people unlawfully arrested during three months of post-election protests.

Michelle Bachelet, the former Chilean president, told journalists in Geneva that authorities should also investigate some 2,000 complaints of torture or ill-treatment in custody.

She was that the situation in the country was "deteriorating" and that more than an estimated 900 people face criminal charges.

Demonstrations against President Alexander Lukashenko’s 26-year rule broke out following a disputed election in August.

jf/rt (AFP, Reuters)

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