UN registered complaint of former political prisoner Larysa Shchyrakova against forced deportation from Belarus
Former political prisoner journalist Larysa Shchyrakova was removed from a correctional colony several months before the end of her term, without a court decision and without her consent.
Photo: leonid.sudalenko / Facebook
A complaint regarding the forced deportation from Belarus of journalist Larysa Shchyrakova, who was released by pardon, has been registered with the UN, wrote human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka on Facebook.
«Belarusian legislation does not provide for the expulsion of its own citizens. There was no court decision on release, nor a decision on expulsion. There was no right to appeal. In fact, deprivation of liberty was terminated through forced expulsion,» Sudalenka writes.
In Belarus, Larysa left behind her elderly father and son. Her mother died during her imprisonment. Care for her grandson had to be taken over by her 90-year-old grandfather.
After being removed, Larysa received a humanitarian visa in Lithuania for one year. Belarusian authorities are ignoring an official inquiry about her legal status and the right for her to return to her homeland.
On February 24, a complaint was registered with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in which, according to Sudalenka, the question was raised whether a state can dispose of the fate of its citizens as an object of political agreements and call expulsion «release»?
«Because if forced expulsion becomes a mechanism, it is a threat to everyone,» the human rights activist wrote.
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