The UN's top human rights body has appointed an investigator to focus on Belarus.
The UN Human Rights Council said its decision was based on what it called "grave concern" over allegations of torture, poor treatment of prisoners, and other abuses.
Such allegations came in a UN report suggesting serious human rights violations since the country's December 2010 presidential election.
More than 700 people -- including seven candidates -- were arrested in the wake of a massive protest against alleged vote fraud.
Mikhail Khvostov, Belarus's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told the UN council that the European Union was pushing its own political agenda.
The UN Human Rights Council said its decision was based on what it called "grave concern" over allegations of torture, poor treatment of prisoners, and other abuses.
Such allegations came in a UN report suggesting serious human rights violations since the country's December 2010 presidential election.
More than 700 people -- including seven candidates -- were arrested in the wake of a massive protest against alleged vote fraud.
Mikhail Khvostov, Belarus's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told the UN council that the European Union was pushing its own political agenda.