Cichanoŭskaja’s aide: Council of Europe’s contact group for Belarus unprecedented

September 8, BPN. The creation by the Council of Europe of a contact group on cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society is an “unprecedented decision,” Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s elections aide Alaksandr Šłyk has told BPN.

The group’s main focus would be on “implementing projects and programs for interaction with Belarusian civil society,” Šłyk said. “The contact group is expected to start working within a month to month-and-a-half.”

Opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja said the group’s establishment on September 8 was an “important step towards returning Belarusians to the international arena.”

“Now we will have our own platform in the Council of Europe,” Cichanoŭskaja said. “We could raise the issues of our independence, political prisoners and law and order through it. Our ultimate goal is Belarus’ accession to the Council of Europe. The contact group’s creation is the first step on this path.”

Belarus has not been admitted to the Council of Europe because it continues to use the death penalty. However, Minsk engaged with the Council on various issues, before the latter suspended all contacts with the Belarusian authorities in March 2022 over Alaksandr Łukašenka’s support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The Council of Europe is set to maintain and enhance relations with Belarusian civil society and the opposition in exile.