A/HRC/20/8 Contents I. II. III. Introduction ............................................................................................................. Page 1–14 4 A. Mandate .......................................................................................................... 1–2 4 B. Cooperation of the Government...................................................................... 3–10 4 C. Methodology ................................................................................................... 11–14 6 Context… ................................................................................................................ 15–28 6 A. General background ........................................................................................ 15–16 6 B. International legal obligations ........................................................................ 17 7 C. National legal framework ............................................................................... 18–28 7 Situation since 19 December 2010 .......................................................................... 29–72 9 A. Sequence of events ......................................................................................... 29–33 9 B. Freedom of assembly ...................................................................................... 34–38 10 C. Treatment of political opponents .................................................................... 39–45 11 D. Prison conditions, torture and ill-treatment..................................................... 46–49 12 E. Freedom of expression and the media ............................................................ 50–58 13 F. Freedom of association and human rights defenders ...................................... 59–63 15 G. Administration of justice, right to a fair trial, and independence of judges and lawyers .......................................................................................... 64–68 16 The right to life and the death penalty ............................................................ 69–72 17 Conclusions and recommendations ......................................................................... 73–75 18 Status of persons charged in connection with the events of 19 December 2010 (information provided by the Government of Belarus) .................................................................... 20 H. IV. Paragraphs Annex 3