A/HRC/48/28 were insulted and threatened, and on 3 February 2021, they were both arrested. Their lawyers signed a non-disclosure agreement, preventing them from publicly discussing details of the case. On 11 February, Mr. Drozdovskiy was charged on suspicion of having committed “fraud” (Article 209 of the Criminal Code), placed under house arrest, and restricted to only communicate with his lawyer (BLR 4/2021). 5. Mandate holders expressed concerns, including publicly on 19 March 2021,5 that the investigations of the work of the NGO, the charges against its director and lawyer, and the alleged ill-treatment could be a reprisal for their cooperation with the UN. The mandate holders raised concerns over the increasing number of cases where human rights defenders were bound by non-disclosure agreements which, when used inappropriately, can criminalise the sharing of information and observations on human rights (BLR 4/2021). 6. It was reported to OHCHR that Mr. Drozdouskiy continues to be under house arrest, which on 3 April 2021 was extended until 3 August 2021. As of May 2021, he reportedly suffers serious health conditions. The lawyer of the organization is currently held in remand prison-1 at Volodarskiy 2 (Minsk), and his detention was extended until 3 August 2021(BLR 4/2021). Further, there are credible concerns that the above-mentioned non-disclosure agreements have both prevented and inhibited civil society actors from sharing information and testimony with the UN. 7. On 13 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report noting that the allegations were unsubstantiated statements used to justify political pressure on Belarus under the pretext of human rights concerns. The Government stated that the Public Association Human Rights Centre Viasna is a liquidated legal entity since a Supreme Court decision in 2003 and their activity is prohibited. The Government noted that some individuals associated with Viasna were investigated by the Investigative Committee of Belarus in February 2021 in a case under article 342 of the Criminal Code for allegedly violating public order. As such, searches were carried out at the places of stay of some of these individuals and they were found to have been involved in criminal activity under article 342, as well as under article 243 (tax evasion). 2. Burundi 8. In its September 2020 report to the Human Rights Council, the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, which had visited Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania and also conducted an increased number of interviews remotely, stated that it “deplored that individuals who cooperated with it had to face acts of intimidation and reprisals” (A/HRC/45/32, para. 6). In its final report, the Commission condemned the climate of intimidation, threats, fear of reprisals maintained by the Government against any person, based in Burundi or in neighbouring countries, who wish to cooperate with the Commission or any other international human rights mechanism (A/HRC/45/CRP.1, para. 14). In its oral updates to the Council during the reporting period, the Commission conveyed its gratitude to the persons who provided it with information despite the risks involved.6 9. In September 2020, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances noted “a widespread fear of reprisals preventing the formal reporting and registration of enforced disappearances” (A/HRC/45/13, para. 56). In October 2020, in its resolution 45/19 on the situation of human rights in Burundi, the Human Rights Council called upon the Government of Burundi to refrain from all acts of intimidation or reprisal against human rights defenders, including those who are cooperating with international human rights mechanisms and the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/RES/45/19, para. 18). 5 6 22 Ibid. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26087&LangID=E; https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26283&LangID=E; https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26879&LangID=E.