Editing Belarus (section)

===Human rights and corruption===
{{Further|Human rights in Belarus}}
{{recentism|date=November 2022}}
[[File:Gdansk mural Ales Bialacki.jpg|thumb|right|Graffiti in [[Gdańsk]] depicting Belarusian human rights activist [[Ales Bialiatski]]]]
[[Amnesty International]],<ref name="amnesty">{{cite web |title=Human rights by country&nbsp;– Belarus |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/belarus/ |access-date=22 January 2020 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]]}}</ref> and [[Human Rights Watch]]<ref name="HRW" /> have criticized Lukashenko's violations of human rights. Belarus's [[Democracy Index]] rating is the lowest in Europe, the country is labelled as "not free" by [[Freedom House]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/belarus|title=Belarus: Country Profile|website=Freedom House|date=20 April 2023 }}</ref> as "repressed" in the [[Index of Economic Freedom]], and in the [[Press Freedom Index]] published by [[Reporters Without Borders]], Belarus is ranked 153rd out of 180 countries for 2022.<ref>{{citation| publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]]| title=Belarus| access-date=8 June 2022| url=https://rsf.org/en/country/belarus}}</ref> The Belarusian government is also criticized for human rights violations and its persecution of non-governmental organizations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.<ref name="amnesty"/><ref name="HRW">{{cite web |url=http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/13/belaru9878.htm |title=Essential Background&nbsp;– Belarus |access-date=26 March 2006 |year=2005 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |archive-date=15 January 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050115051738/http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/13/belaru9878.htm }}</ref> Lukashenko announced a new law in 2014 that will prohibit [[kolkhoz]] workers (around 9% of total work force) from leaving their jobs at will—a change of job and living location will require permission from governors. Lukashenko himself compared the law with [[serfdom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://charter97.org/en/news/2014/5/28/100271|title=Lukashenka promises "serfdom" in villages|publisher=Charter '97|date=28 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://wyborcza.pl/1,75477,16075099,Panszczyzna_u_Lukaszenki__Prezydent_Bialorusi_chce.html|title=Pańszczyzna u Łukaszenki. Prezydent Białorusi chce zakazać kołchoźnikom odchodzić z pracy|date=2014|newspaper=Gazeta Wyborcza|language=pl}}</ref> Similar regulations were introduced for the forestry industry in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://belsat.eu/en/wiadomosci/a,11316,in-chase-of-upgrade-serfdom-for-woodworkers.html |title=In chase of upgrade: serfdom for woodworkers? |date=2012 |publisher=[[Belsat]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726234207/http://belsat.eu/en/wiadomosci/a%2C11316%2Cin-chase-of-upgrade-serfdom-for-woodworkers.html |archive-date=26 July 2014 }}</ref> Belarus is the only European country still using [[capital punishment]], having carried out executions in 2011.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act50/001/2012/en/ Death sentences and executions in 2011] Amnesty International March 2012</ref> [[LGBT rights in Belarus|LGBT rights]] in the country are also ranked among the lowest in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rainbow Europe |url=https://www.ilga-europe.org/rainbow-europe/ |website=ILGA-Europe |date=4 February 2022 |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> In March 2023, Lukashenko signed a law which allows using capital punishment against officials and soldiers convicted of high [[treason]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Belarus approves death penalty for officials convicted of high treason |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-approves-death-penalty-officials-convicted-high-treason-2023-03-09/ |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

The judicial system in Belarus lacks independence and is subject to political interference.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Human Rights Reports: Belarus|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2012/eur/204263.htm|work=The US Department of State|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> Corrupt practices such as bribery often took place during tender processes, and [[whistleblower]] protection and national [[ombudsman]] are lacking in Belarus's anti-corruption system.<ref>{{cite web|title=Snapshot of the Belarus Country Profile|url=http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/europe-central-asia/belarus/snapshot.aspx|work=Business Anti-Corruption Portal|date=5 November 2020 |publisher=GAN Integrity Solutions}}</ref>
[[File:2020 Belarusian protests — Minsk, 16 August p0036.jpg|thumb|Rally against Lukashenko in Minsk, 23 August 2020]]
On 1 September 2020, the [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] declared that its experts received reports of 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of people who were arrested during the [[2020–2021 Belarusian protests|protests following the presidential election]]. The experts also received reports of violence against women and children, including sexual abuse and rape with rubber batons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26199&LangID=E |title=UN human rights experts: Belarus must stop torturing protesters and prevent enforced disappearances |date=1 September 2020 |access-date=1 September 2020 |website=[[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]]}}</ref> At least three detainees suffered injuries indicative of sexual violence in [[Okrestino]] prison in Minsk or on the way there. The victims were hospitalized with intramuscular bleeding of the rectum, anal fissure and bleeding, and damage to the mucous membrane of the rectum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boell.de/de/2020/10/29/das-verpruegelte-minsk|title=Das verprügelte Minsk|website=Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung}}</ref> In an interview from September 2020 Lukashenko claimed that detainees faked their bruises, saying, "Some of the girls there had their butts painted in blue".<ref>{{cite news | title=Lukashenko blames Americans and drunks for Belarus protests |date=9 September 2020 |work=[[MSN]] | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/smart-living/lukashenko-blames-americans-and-drunks-for-belarus-protests/vp-BB18ShbU | access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref>

On 23 May 2021, Belarusian authorities [[Ryanair Flight 4978|forcibly diverted a Ryanair flight]] from [[Athens]] to [[Vilnius]] in order to detain opposition activist and journalist [[Roman Protasevich]] along with his girlfriend; in response, the [[European Union]] imposed stricter sanctions on Belarus.<ref>{{cite web |title=EU imposes sanctions on Belarusian economy |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/06/24/eu-imposes-sanctions-on-belarusian-economy/ |website=[[Council of the European Union]] |date=24 June 2021 |access-date=5 August 2021 }}</ref> In May 2021, Lukashenko threatened that he will flood the European Union with migrants and drugs as a response to the sanctions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Joe |title=Belarus dictator threatens to 'flood EU with drugs and migrants' |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/world-news/europe/952979/belarus-dictator-threatens-flood-eu-with-drugs-migrants-avoid-sanctions |website=[[The Week]] |date=28 May 2021 |access-date=6 August 2021 }}</ref> In July 2021, Belarusian authorities launched a [[hybrid warfare]] by [[human trafficking]] of [[2021 Belarus–European Union border crisis|migrants to the European Union]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitmore |first1=Brian |title=Belarus dictator weaponizes illegal migrants against EU |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/belarus-dictator-weaponizes-illegal-migrants-against-eu/ |website=[[Atlantic Council]] |date=30 June 2021|access-date=5 August 2021 }}</ref> [[Lithuania]]n authorities and top European officials [[Ursula von der Leyen]], [[Josep Borrell]] condemned the usage of migrants as a weapon and suggested that Belarus could be subject to further sanctions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Valerie |title=In Lithuania, Migrants Find Themselves Caught in a Geopolitical Battle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/world/europe/lithuania-belarus-migrants-european-union.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/world/europe/lithuania-belarus-migrants-european-union.html |archive-date=28 December 2021 |url-access=limited |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=19 July 2021|access-date=5 August 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In August 2021, Belarusian officials, wearing uniforms, riot shields and helmets, were recorded on camera near the [[Belarus–Lithuania border]] pushing and urging the migrants to cross the European Union border.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beniušis |first1=Vaidotas |last2=Balkūnas |first2=Vidmantas |title=Baltarusijos pareigūnai su skydais blokuoja migrantų grąžinimą: kadrai iš pasienio |url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/isskirtine-medziaga-lietuviu-grazintus-migrantus-baltarusija-stumia-atgal-56-1545890 |website=[[15min.lt]] |date=5 August 2021 |language=lt|access-date=5 August 2021 }}</ref> Following the granting of humanitarian visas to an Olympic athlete [[Krystsina Tsimanouskaya]] and her husband, [[Poland]] also accused Belarus for organizing a hybrid warfare as the number of migrants crossing the [[Belarus–Poland border]] sharply increased multiple times when compared to the 2020 statistics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wądołowska |first1=Agnieszka |title=Poland accuses Belarus of sending migrants over border as "living weapons" in "hybrid war" |url=https://notesfrompoland.com/2021/08/06/poland-accuses-belarus-of-sending-migrants-over-border-as-living-weapons-in-hybrid-war/ |website=Notes From Poland |access-date=6 August 2021 |date=6 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Poland Says Belarus Is Letting Migrants Cross Border In 'Hybrid War' With EU |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/poland-belarus-migrants-tsimanouskaya/31395719.html |website=[[RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty]] |access-date=6 August 2021 |date=5 August 2021 }}</ref> Illegal migrants numbers also exceeded the previous annual numbers in [[Latvia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lukašenkos keršto akcija pasiekė ir Latviją: šią savaitę – ryškus nelegalių migrantų skaičiaus šuolis |url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/world/lukasenkos-kersto-akcija-pasieke-ir-latvija-sia-savaite-ryskus-nelegaliu-migrantu-skaiciaus-suolis.d?id=87896227 |website=[[DELFI]] |access-date=6 August 2021 |date=6 August 2021 |language=lt}}</ref> On 2 December 2021, the [[United States]], European Union, [[United Kingdom]] and [[Canada]] imposed new sanctions on Belarus.<ref>{{cite web |title=US, EU, UK and Canada Announce New Belarus Sanctions |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-eu-uk-and-canada-announce-new-belarus-sanctions/6336956.html |website=[[Voice of America]] |date=2 December 2021 |access-date=19 December 2021 }}</ref>