Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
Statement by Ambassador Michèle Taylor
Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council
Human Rights Council 53
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mikalai Klimovich, who recently died in prison from an untreated heart condition after authorities denied appropriate medical attention.
We call for access to Viktar Babaryka, who has been held incommunicado by Belarusian authorities since April 26 when he was transferred to a hospital for emergency surgery with signs of physical abuse.
We remain deeply concerned about the health of political prisoner Maria Kalesnikava.
The United States calls on Belarusian authorities to permit access by the Special Rapporteur and others to assess prison conditions and monitor other aspects of the troubling human rights situation in Belarus.
Madame Special Rapporteur, how can we effectively press Belarusian authorities to uphold their international obligations and commitments regarding appropriate treatment of prisoners?
Thank you.
###