The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday adopted a resolution for creating a team to investigate Belarus’ excessive use of force and torture during the violent crackdown on the country-wide protests that erupted post the elections in August last year.

President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed re-election for his sixth term in the disputed polls despite claims of election-tampering and mass protests against his establishment. Several hundreds of protesters have been arbitrarily detained and tortured as per reports of human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Viasna.

The UNHRC has urged the country’s government to “cooperate fully” with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation “by granting her free, full and unhindered access” to the country including all places of detention. It also requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), Michelle Bachelet, to monitor and report on the human rights situation as well as to carry out a comprehensive examination of all alleged human rights violations in the country since May last year.

With assistance from relevant experts and special procedure mandate holders, the UNHCR is to analyze the information and evidence collected so as to contribute towards accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims. The UNHCR is also requested to engage with the country’s authorities and stakeholders and make general recommendations for improving the protection of human rights.

The resolution requested immediate operationalization of its mandate and requested the Office of the High Commissioner to present an interim oral update at the 48th Session of the UNHRC, scheduled in September 2021, and thereafter to provide a comprehensive written report at the 49th Session. This resolution was notably supported by Belarus’ neighbors Ukraine and Poland and opposed by the Russian Federation.