Report of the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus, co-authored with the Legal Initiative. Based on data collected by the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus and HRC ยซViasnaยป.
Homophobia in Belarus has been widespread for quite a long time and at the highest level. Since 2010, public homophobic statements by Alexander Lukashenko have been traced in the media. From time to time news about hate-motivated attacks appear.
After the presidential elections of 2020 the situation worsened โ mass repressions began, including against LGBTQ+ women.
During detention, physical and psychological violence in the form of insults, humiliation, and threats were used against people who looked ยซnon-normativeยป. Here is what the witnesses whose stories were documented by the International Committee and Viasna have to say:
Two policemen were standing over me, saying: ยซNow we’re going to put batons up your ass, now you’re going to get raped. We should call Tolik, he’s our chief proctologistยป.
I’m a transparen, I have breasts. They told me: ยซFuck you, you call yourself a guy, don’t fuck around! If you’re such a guy, strip down to your underwear, we don’t give a fuck!ยป
There was a guy in our van who had pictures of him kissing his boyfriend. I didn’t see what was going on there. But the bus was wobbling from the way he was being beaten.
The Belarusian state started using LGBTQ+ people for propaganda. For example, in the ยซpenitential videosยป after the use of torture, detainees are forced to talk about their sexual orientation.
In 2021, almost all independent civil society organizations working with the topic of LGBTQ+ were liquidated in Belarus. People were left with no tools to protect themselves from homophobia.
Starting in 2022, the Belarusian pro-governmental media began broadcasting the position of the Russian authorities on the LGBTQ+ community. Chairperson of the Council of the Republic Natalia Kochanova stated that a law banning LGBTQ+ propaganda in Belarus could be introduced. In 2023, Lukashenko confirmed a similar opinion.
LGBTQ+ people have been victims not only of threats, but also of violence. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet testifies to this.
ยซOur findings confirm the rape of detainees and the use of other forms of sexual and gender-based violence against both men and women. The medical records we examined indicate the presence of injuries to male genitalsยป.
Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Lukashenko regime cannot guarantee LGBTQ+ people protection from violence, protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Republic of Belarus does not comply with international treaties to which it is a party, thereby violating international law.
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