In the context of the current deep human rights crisis, we acknowledge the absence of genuine engagement with the authorities. At the same time, the Belarus Helsinki Committee regards the government as a crucial institution upon which the realization and protection of human rights depend.
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Thousands of innocent people are either currently detained or have been imprisoned, and hundreds of thousands have fled the country for fear of arbitrary arrest. These are shattered lives.
Although these events have already occurred, there remains an opportunity to alleviate their consequences in some way. We once again call on the Belarusian authorities to cease their repressive actions, to release and rehabilitate political prisoners, and to begin seeking solutions to resolve the crisis.
If you are an “ordinary public servant” or an “ordinary law enforcement officer” and nothing depends on you, please try to minimize the harm caused by your actions: slow down, sabotage criminal orders and directives, and remember that there are innocent people around you who are simply exercising their rights.
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To gain an understanding of the systemic human rights reforms our country needs, we recommend reading: