A/HRC/51/47 reprisals, the Government noted that judicial intervention should be sought immediately rather than trying to raise allegations supported by inadequate information. 21. According to information received by OHCHR, Odhikar and its staff continue to be under surveillance, which reportedly intensified after 10 December 2021. As of April 2022, Odikhar’s bank accounts remain frozen and their application to the NGO Affairs Bureau for the renewal of its registration is pending. During the reporting period, Odhikar has continued to engage with the United Nations bodies and mechanisms, including by submitting information, statements, and communications to Special Procedures, in particular to the United Nations Working Group on Enforce or Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID). 22. On 22 July 2022, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report (See Annex I) and clarified that the alleged acts of intimidation and harassment against the relatives of the reported disappeared persons, human rights defenders and civil society organizations was a misrepresentation. Regarding the case of Odikhar and Mr. Adilur Rahman Kan and Mr. Nasiruddin Elan, (Secretary and Director of Odikhar), it reiterated their bias against the authorities and clarified that the administrative and legal action against the organizations was due to the corruption findings of an investigation. The Government informed about its decision not to approve Odikhar’s application for renewal of registration, for its failure to comply with applicable legislation, the lack of response to respond to the objections in audit reports concerning projects funded with foreign donations and due to irregularities related to fee payments and VAT. The Government clarified that that the Cyber Crime Tribunal had resumed the trial of Odikhar’s Secretary and Director in accordance with the law and rejected allegations of intimidation and reprisals against the two. 4. Belarus 23. The case of the NGO Human Rights Centre Viasna, which promotes human rights and provided legal aid in Belarus, was included in the 2021 report of the Secretary-General25 on allegations of raids, arbitrary arrest, and criminal charges, which increased following their intensified cooperation with the United Nations. 24. In her 2022 report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus 26 addressed the situation of Viasna’s staff and the targeting of the NGO. On 7 September 2021, a group of mandate holders addressed the arrest and criminal prosecution under articles 243 (tax evasion) and 342 (violation of public order) of the Criminal Code of several Viasna representatives, staff members and collaborators (BLR 8/2021). They expressed concern that these events unfolded in the context of the adoption of the UN Human Rights Council resolution 47/19 on the situation of human rights in Belarus, and the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus on 13 July 2021. 25. In September 2021, mandate holders addressed the dissolution of several NGOs on 23 July 2021, including the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The case of this NGO working on the rights of persons with disabilities was included in the 2021 report of the Secretary-General27 on allegations of raids, seizure of equipment, criminalization, and ill-treatment of its director for cooperation with the UN (BLR 8/2021). The dissolution of the Office of Persons with Disabilities was also addressed by the Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus in her 2022 report to the Human Rights Council.28 25 26 27 28 A/HRC/48/28, Annex I para. 2. A/HRC/50/58, paras. 93–94. A/HRC/48/28, Annex I paras. 3–7. A/HRC/50/58, paras. 93 and 95. 39