u/juris_martins

🔴 Freedom of association and freedom of assembly remain nearly non-existent. Authorities continue to detain and convict individuals arbitrarily.

🔴 April 2025 to March 2026, 11 media outlets have been designated as extremist. In 2025, 479 Telegram channels were designated as "extremist material". People have been persecuted for subscribing, commenting, reposting, or "liking" online materials that have been designated as "extremist".

🔴 State authorities have systematically denied access to information on judicial proceedings.

🔴 State uses misuse of counter-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation for persecution of opposition figures, human rights defenders, journalists, and activists, including cultural and academic actors. Individuals face serious, prolonged denial of their rights and ill-treatment.

🔴Belarus remains the only European country with a death penalty. Anti-death penalty materials are designated as "extremist".

🔴 The state has systematically abused and denied the rights of imprisoned persons. The abuse includes both physical and psychological violence. Even minors have faced abuse by the authorities, such as placement in isolation. There has been systematic gender-based violence conducted against female prisoners. Authorities don't properly investigate and prosecute incidents.

🔴 33 individuals subjected by courts to coercive psychiatric treatment following prosecutions for exercising their rights, including by participating in protests and for allegedly insulting officials.

🔴 954 political prisoners. The latest wave of repression has targeted those supporting Ukraine. Authorities continue to harass and surveil people in exile, political prisoners, and their lawyers.

🔴 Absentia trials against exiled activists, using them as a routine tool alongside public “demonstrations” of property seizures and forced entry. Authorities designate exiled organizations and social media content as "extremist". Such designations expose individuals in Belarus interacting with and accessing the sites of such organizations to legal liability.

🔴 Discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people. The situation for LGBTIQ+ individuals in Belarus is worsening, marked by legislative discrimination and increased harassment by law enforcement. Transgender persons face additional barriers, particularly in accessing healthcare and legal gender recognition.

🔴 The Belarusian language is subjected to systematic marginalization. Activists who maintain and promote the Belarusian language have faced persecution. Independent Belarusian-language initiatives have been suppressed.

🔴 Stigmatization and targeting by the state have also been against Polish and Lithuanian minorities. Religious minorities face restrictions.

Read full report (in multiple languages): https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4117856?v=pdf#files

If elections happened today results would be:

1. United List (Apvienotais Saraksts) [ECRE] | right-wing, skeptic-adjancent on EU; pro-NATO 17,1%

2. Latvia First! (Latvija Pirmā Vietā) [Patriots of Europe] | populist right-wing, Euroskeptic, Trumpist | 15%

3. Sovereign Power (Suvarēnā Vara) [N/A] | right-wing, pro-Russia, Euroskeptic | 13,8%

4. Progressives (Progresīvie) [European Green Party] | centre-left, pro-EU, pro-NATO | 12,1%

5. National Alliance (Nacionālā Apvienība) [ECRE] | right-wing, nationalist, pro-NATO | 9,5%

6. New Unity (Jaunā Vienotība) [European People's Party] | centrist, pro-EU, pro-NATO | 7,3%

7. Farmers and Greens Union (Zaļo & Zemnieku Savienība) [N/A] | right-wing, skeptic on EU, pro-NATO | 6,9%

Source: LSM // https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/02.07.2026-partiju-reitingi-aug-apvienota-saraksta-un-suverenas-varasjaunlatviesu-popularitate.a653602/

Read more about research (it is the first attachment in the article):

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/commentary/01.06.2026-study-shows-latvians-are-liberal-conservative-and-often-both-at-once.a649593/