UN rights council to host urgent debate on Belarus violence

 

#BREAKING UN rights council to host urgent debate on Belarus violence pic.twitter.com/QQaqw5Aj8k

— AFP news agency (@AFP) September 14, 2020

According to AFP, the UN Human Rights Council agreed Monday to host an urgent debate about the deteriorating rights situation in Belarus since protests erupted over Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election as president last month.

The decision to host an urgent debate, as requested by the European Union, was taken following a vote, with 25 of the council's 47 members voting in favour, two against and 20 abstentions.

UN Human Rights Council President Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger of Austria said the debate would take place on Friday.

The Council’s President said 25 members of the council voted in favour and two against, with 20 abstentions, meaning the motion was adopted.

According to Reuters, Belarussian ambassador Yury Ambrazevich objected to the motion, submitted on behalf of the European Union, which he described as “part of a broad political campaign organised by the European Union in order to support political forces in Belarus who lost the election”.

“...the EU is creating the conditions for preserving this political standoff in the society of Belarus,” he added.