US envoy to OSCE calls for unconditional release of Belarus’ political prisoners

January 28, BPN. US envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Michael Carpenter has called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus.

“The United States will use all appropriate tools to promote accountability for the Łukašenka regime’s egregious abuses and violations of the rights of its own people,” he said in Vienna on January 26.

“We call for the unconditional release of all those unjustly held in Belarus. And we will continue to support a democratic, prosperous, and fully sovereign and independent future for Belarus,” he added.

In late November, Carpenter said the USA was trying to expose Russian atrocities in Ukraine and to isolate Russia along with Belarus as a co-aggressor. He explained this strategy by the lack of a mechanism to expel members from the OSCE. He stressed the need to ensure justice and accountability for all the war crimes, human rights violations, and possible crimes against humanity that have been committed in Ukraine.