US envoy to OSCE praises Council of Europe’s cooperation with Belarus’ opposition

April 21, BPN. The United States appreciates the creation of the Contact Group on Belarus at the Council of Europe (CoE), said Michael Carpenter, US envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

“We believe the Contact Group’s technical expertise in the areas of human rights, democracy, and rule of law can bolster democracy in Belarus following Russia’s exclusion from the Council of Europe and the suspension of activities in Belarus after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year,” he said.

Carpenter condemned the sentencing in absentia of Belarusian opposition politicians Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and Pavieł Łatuška. The diplomat reiterated the United States’ commitment to Belarusian people’s aspirations “for a democratic and peaceful future free of politically motivated prosecutions and repression.”

On February 1, the CoE announced an action plan to support Belarusian democratic forces and civil society. It includes human rights training, workshops on the European Convention on Human Rights and study tours to the CoE headquarters for Belarusian lawyers.

The CoE Contact Group on Belarus first met in November 2022. It includes representatives of EU institutions and Belarusian democratic forces and civil society. The next meeting is scheduled for June.

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.