03:11Mandatory credit to UNTV
Belarusian human rights activist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was given a chance to share a video in front of the whole UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, in which she laid out the demands of the Belarusian people.
"The scope and the brutality of the extensive force used by the [Lukashenko] regime is in clear violation of all international norms," exclaimed Tsikhanouskaya.
Later in her video, Tsikhanouskaya told the council what she believes are the current demands of the Belarussian population.
"I once again emphasise our willingness to talk with the authorities and look for peaceful solutions to the crisis that has affected our nation. Our demands are simple and completely in line with all basic international norms. We demand to immediately cease violence against peaceful citizens. We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners. We demand to allow entry and free movements for the United Nations repertoire on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Finally, we demand free and fair elections so the citizens of Belarus can freely choose their governments according to the laws of the country," stated Tsikhanouskaya.
The powerful video message, which led to a long discussion at the Human Rights Council, where the head of Head of Lukashenko's Belarusian delegation Yury Ambrazevich was present, ended on a dignified note. "It's very important to recognise that standing up for democratic principles and human rights is not interfering in internal affairs. It is a universal question of human dignity, thank you."
Large-scale anti-government protests have been ongoing in Belarus for more than a month, sparked by the contested presidential election, which saw President Alexander Lukashenko win with 80.1 percent of the vote.
Switzerland: Belarusian activist Tsikhanouskaya demands 'immediate release of all political prisoners' at UNHRC
Belarusian human rights activist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was given a chance to share a video in front of the whole UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, in which she laid out the demands of the Belarusian people.
"The scope and the brutality of the extensive force used by the [Lukashenko] regime is in clear violation of all international norms," exclaimed Tsikhanouskaya.
Later in her video, Tsikhanouskaya told the council what she believes are the current demands of the Belarussian population.
"I once again emphasise our willingness to talk with the authorities and look for peaceful solutions to the crisis that has affected our nation. Our demands are simple and completely in line with all basic international norms. We demand to immediately cease violence against peaceful citizens. We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners. We demand to allow entry and free movements for the United Nations repertoire on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Finally, we demand free and fair elections so the citizens of Belarus can freely choose their governments according to the laws of the country," stated Tsikhanouskaya.
The powerful video message, which led to a long discussion at the Human Rights Council, where the head of Head of Lukashenko's Belarusian delegation Yury Ambrazevich was present, ended on a dignified note. "It's very important to recognise that standing up for democratic principles and human rights is not interfering in internal affairs. It is a universal question of human dignity, thank you."
Large-scale anti-government protests have been ongoing in Belarus for more than a month, sparked by the contested presidential election, which saw President Alexander Lukashenko win with 80.1 percent of the vote.
Mandatory credit to UNTV
Belarusian human rights activist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was given a chance to share a video in front of the whole UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, in which she laid out the demands of the Belarusian people.
"The scope and the brutality of the extensive force used by the [Lukashenko] regime is in clear violation of all international norms," exclaimed Tsikhanouskaya.
Later in her video, Tsikhanouskaya told the council what she believes are the current demands of the Belarussian population.
"I once again emphasise our willingness to talk with the authorities and look for peaceful solutions to the crisis that has affected our nation. Our demands are simple and completely in line with all basic international norms. We demand to immediately cease violence against peaceful citizens. We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners. We demand to allow entry and free movements for the United Nations repertoire on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Finally, we demand free and fair elections so the citizens of Belarus can freely choose their governments according to the laws of the country," stated Tsikhanouskaya.
The powerful video message, which led to a long discussion at the Human Rights Council, where the head of Head of Lukashenko's Belarusian delegation Yury Ambrazevich was present, ended on a dignified note. "It's very important to recognise that standing up for democratic principles and human rights is not interfering in internal affairs. It is a universal question of human dignity, thank you."
Large-scale anti-government protests have been ongoing in Belarus for more than a month, sparked by the contested presidential election, which saw President Alexander Lukashenko win with 80.1 percent of the vote.