OTTAWA – The governments of Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have issued a joint statement condemning what they describe as an ongoing campaign of repression and human rights violations in Belarus. The three countries accuse Belarusian authorities of a systematic effort to shut down civil society, independent media, and all forms of political opposition.
In the statement released on Saturday, the three allies declared they “stand united in condemning the ongoing repression and human rights violations” in the country. They highlighted that “thousands have been unjustly detained, subjected to torture, or forced into exile,” actions they say constitute a “flagrant breach of Belarus’ international law obligations.”
The condemnation is directed at the government of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko, who was re-elected for a seventh five-year term in January, has been widely criticized for crushing large-scale street protests that followed the 2020 election, an event opposition parties and Western governments claimed was rigged. Since then, his leading opponents have either been jailed or have fled the country.
While acknowledging that a number of political prisoners have been released since mid-2024, the three governments expressed continued concern over the ongoing arrests and persecution of individuals for exercising their fundamental human rights. Human rights groups estimate that nearly 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars, a claim that Lukashenko denies.
The joint statement concludes with a strong call for Belarusian authorities to “end their campaign of repression” and uphold their international commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms.
