The government of Belarus is criticized for human rights violations and persecution of non-governmental organisations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians. In a testimony to the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice labeled Belarus as one of the world's six "outposts of tyranny". In response, the Belarusian government called the assessment "quite far from reality". During the 2020 Belarusian presidential election and 2020 Belarusian protests, the number of political prisoners recognized by Viasna Human Rights Centre rose dramatically to 1,144 as of 9 February 2026.Political prisoners in Belarus Several people died after the use of unlawful and abusive force (including firearms) by law enforcement officials while suppressing protests. According to Amnesty International, the authorities did not investigate violations during protests, but instead harassed those who challenged their version of events.Belarus: "You Are Not Human Beings" In July 2021, the authorities launched a campaign against the remaining non-governmental organizations, liquidating at least 270 of them by October, including all previously registered human rights organizations in the country.Belarus Authorities 'Purge' Human Rights Defenders

President Alexander Lukashenko has described himself as having an "authoritarian ruling style". Western countries have described Belarus under Lukashenko as "Europe's last dictatorship"; the government has accused the same Western powers of attempting a regime change. The Council of Europe has barred Belarus from membership since 1997 for undemocratic voting and irregularities during elections in the November 1996 constitutional referendum and parliament by-elections.

Dozens of Belarusian government officials responsible for political repressions, forced disappearances, propaganda, and electoral fraud have been subject to personal sanctions by the United States of America and the European Union.

Electoral process

As of 2025, no other presidential or parliamentary election or referendum was held in Belarus since then which has been accepted as free and fair by the OSCE, the United Nations, the European Union or the United States. Senior officials responsible for organizing elections, including the head of the Central Elections Commission, Lydia Yermoshina, were subject to international sanctions for electoral fraud:

+Lukashenko's official election results at presidential elections 10 July 1994 9 September 2001 19 March 2006 19 December 2010 11 October 2015 9 August 2020 26 January 2025 80.61% 77.39% 84.44% 80.44% 84.14% 81.04% 87.48%

December 2010 election

The presidential elections of 2010 were followed by opposition protests and its violent crackdown by the police. A group of protesters tried to storm a principal government building, smashing windows and doors before riot police pushed them back. After attack of principal building protesters were violently suppressed. Several hundreds of activists, including several presidential candidates, were arrested, beaten and tortured by the police and the Belarusian KGB.

Lukashenko criticized the protesters, accusing them of "banditry".

Police violence during the protests and the overall conduction of the election caused a wave of harsh criticism from the U.S. and the EU. More than 200 propagandists, state security officers, central election committee staff and other officials were included in sanctions lists of the European Union: they were banned from entering the EU and their assets in the EU, if any, were to be frozen.

August 2020 election

In June 2020, the Amnesty International documented clampdown on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and association, ahead of presidential elections scheduled for 9 August 2020. The organization reported politically motivated prosecutions, intimidation, harassment and reprisals against opposition candidates and their supporters. The Belarusian authorities targeted and intimidated civil society activists and independent media. Two politicians, Syarhei Tsikhanouski and Viktar Babaryka, were jailed and faced politically motivated criminal proceedings. Hundreds of peaceful protesters, including their supporters, were arbitrarily arrested and heavily fined or held in "administrative detention". On 14 August 2020, the European Union imposed sanctions on individual Belarusian officials, after reports of the systematic abuse and torture of Belarusians in a violent crackdown on protesters. The Belarusian security forces beat and detained peaceful protesters, who participated in demonstrations against the official election outcome. On 17 March 2023, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report according to which there were "sufficient grounds to believe that systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed in Belarus", and "some of the violations may also amount to crimes against humanity". The report cited violations including excessive use of force, torture and arbitrary arrests as part of a "campaign of violence and repression" against protesters opposing the government. Lukashenko dismissed the accusations and blamed foreign powers for supporting the protesters.

Freedoms

Freedom of the press

Since the 2000s, Reporters Without Borders have been ranking Belarus below all other European countries in its Press Freedom Index.

Freedom House has rated Belarus as "not free" in all of its global surveys since 1998, "Freedom in the World";Freedom House 2023, Retrieved 25 April 2023. the Lukashenko government curtails press freedom, the organization says. State media are subordinate to the president. Harassment and censorship of independent media are routine.

Under the authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko, journalists like Iryna Khalip, Natalya Radina, and Pavel Sheremet have been arrested for their work. Independent printed media like Nasha Niva have been excluded from state distribution networks.

In February 2021, two Belsat TV journalists Katsyaryna Andreeva and Darya Chultsova were imprisoned for two years for streaming during anti-Lukashenko protests in Minsk.В Беларуси двум журналисткам дали реальные сроки в отместку за их работу, Retrieved 16 June 2025.

In May 2021, top news site tut.by which was read by circa 40% of internet users in Belarus was blocked and several its journalists were detained.Belarus blocks top news site in 'full-scale assault' on free press, Retrieved 16 June 2025. In July 2021, Nasha Niva, a news site, was blocked with simultaneous detention of the editors took place.В Беларуси обыски у журналистов издания "Наша Нива", Retrieved 16 June 2025. Editorial office of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Minsk was searched with doors being broke, homes of several its journalists were also searched.RFE/RL Raided As Belarusian Police Search Offices And Homes Of Journalists, CurrentTime, Retrieved 16 June 2025. Coverage of these attacks on independent media by state-run TV channels is considered to be an attempt to intimidate people.

According to Current Time TV, state-run media made false accusations about the activities of journalists and invented fake evidences of their guilt without any trial.Разгром "Свободы". Белорусские СМИ и соцмедиа – об очередной волне обысков у журналистов, Retrieved 16 June 2025. Amnesty International condemned attack on NGOs by Belarusian authorities.Belarus: Sweeping closure of dozens of NGOs as the crackdown on civil society continues, Retrieved 16 June 2025.

In July 2021, registrations of Belarusian Association of Journalists, Press Club Belarus and Belarusian branch of writers' PEN center were revoked as a part of attack on NGOs (see #Pressure on NGOs section).

Freedom of religion

Jews are not the only minority who are alleged to have had their human rights violated in Belarus. On 25 March 2004, the Associated Press reported that a ban exists on home worship in the country and that members of four Protestant churches had recently asked the government to repeal a 2002 law which forbade them worshipping from their own homes, although they were members of legally registered religions. The Christian Post reported in a 21 April 2005 article that non-denominational, charismatic churches were greatly affected by the law, since none of these churches own buildings. Protestant organizations have also complained of censorship because of the ban on importing literature without approval by government officials.

According to Forum 18, textbooks widely used in Belarusian schools (as of 2002) contain anti-religious views similar to those taught in the USSR: Religion does not teach a believer to strive to lead a dignified life, to fight for his freedom or against evil and oppression. This is all supposed to be performed for him by supernatural forces, above all, god. All that is left for the believer to do is to be his pathetic petitioner, to behave as a pauper or slave...Religion's promises to give a person everything that he seeks in it are but illusion and deception."

The organization also reported that charismatic Protestant churches (such as Full Gospel) and Greek Catholic and independent Orthodox churches (such as those unaffiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church) have encountered difficulty in registering churches.

In 2003, Protestant groups accused the government of Belarus of waging a smear campaign against them, telling Poland's Catholic information agency KAI that they had been accused of being Western spies and conducting human sacrifice. Charter 97 reported in July 2004 that Baptists who celebrated Easter with patients at a hospital in Mazyr were fined and threatened with confiscation of their property.

Only 4,000 Muslims live in Belarus, mostly ethnic Lipka Tatars who are the descendants of immigrants and prisoners in the 11th and 12th centuries. The administration for Muslims in the country, which was abolished in 1939, was re-established in 1994.

However, Ahmadiyya Muslims (commonly regarded as a non-violent sect) are banned from practicing their faith openly in Belarus, and have a similar status to groups like Scientology and Aum Shinrikyo. There have been no major reports of religious persecution of the Muslim community; however, because of the situation in Chechnya and neighboring Russia concerns have been expressed by Belarusian Muslims that they may become increasingly vulnerable.

These fears were heightened on 16 September 2005 when a bomb was detonated outside a bus stop, injuring two people. On 23 September a bomb was exploded outside a restaurant, wounding nearly 40 people. Muslims were not suspected in the latter attack, which was labeled "hooliganism".

In 2020, the government pressed on major religious groups after they condemned violence during the mass protests. On 26 August 2020, Belarusian riot police OMON blocked protesters and random believers in a Roman Catholic church in Minsk for several hours. The leader of the Belarusian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Paul was forced to resign after criticism of the police and authorities; his changer Veniamin was considered to be a much more comfortable figure for Lukashenko."Вы подняли руку на Христа": как белорусские православные стали частью протестов, а церковь - нетРПЦ сменила главу Белорусской православной церкви, призывавшего Лукашенко остановить насилие The leader of the Roman Catholic church in Belarus Tadevuš Kandrusievič was banned from returning to Belarus from Poland for several months and was forced to resign soon after the return.Belarusian Catholic Leader Returns After Forced ExilePope accepts resignation of Minsk Archbishop and appoints AdministratorКарикатура, которая будет дорого стоить: как белорусский режим делает из католиков врагов. Мнение