The report consists of four main chapters. The first chapter provides an overview of the political system and governance in Belarus, detailing recent political developments, the protests of 2020, and state control over information and culture.
The second chapter outlines state practices affecting civic space, focusing on human rights context and the use of legislation against critics of the government. It examines the application of anti-extremism and anti-terrorism laws and various lists maintained by the authorities and describes politically motivated prosecution, including in relation to donations to organisations designated as extremist and expressing support for Ukraine.
The third chapter addresses the law enforcement and justice system. First, it covers the security apparatus and its methods, including surveillance practices and border control measures applied by the authorities to individuals returning to Belarus. Second, it focuses on the administration of justice and describes court procedures, fair trial guarantees, trials in absentia, and detention conditions of political prisoners.
The fourth chapter examines the treatment of various political groups by the authorities. It covers political opponents, protesters, journalists, human rights defenders and lawyers, former political prisoners, relatives of political prisoners, and LGBTIQ+ persons and activists.