On the International #DayoftheEndangeredLawyer, I join my colleague, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus @MuizNils, in raising alarm about the unprecedented repression of lawyers in #Belarus, where legal professionals face systematic threats, disbarment, imprisonment, and exile simply for fulfilling their duty to defend human rights and uphold the rule of law. The government has weaponized the legal system to silence dissent, targeting lawyers who represent peaceful protesters, political opposition figures, and civil society. Since 2020, over 140 lawyers have been disbarred, many imprisoned, and others forced to flee. Even in exile, lawyers face reprisals, while their families in Belarus endure harassment and detention. This climate of fear has caused the legal profession to shrink drastically, with one lawyer now serving 5,700 residents—a crisis that undermines access to justice and fair trial guarantees for all. Belarus must act now to restore the independence and safety of its legal profession. Bar associations must be free from state interference, allowing lawyers to work without fear of reprisal. The international community must also support exiled Belarusian lawyers, ensuring their skills and expertise are put to use in host countries. A free, independent legal profession is the backbone of justice, and we cannot stand by as it is systematically destroyed in Belarus. Read the full statement here: ohchr.org/sites/default/file…