France urges Belarus to implement OSCE recommendations

May 15, BPN. France strongly condemns human rights abuses in Belarus and the complicity of Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime in Russia’s war on Ukraine, the French Embassy in Minsk said in a statement.

It comes days after a report on Belarus was presented to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council.

OSCE Moscow Mechanism rapporteur Hervé Ascensio noted intensified crackdown in Belarus over the past two years and increased restrictions on fundamental freedoms.

His report linked human rights abuses in Belarus to the government’s desire to control society and silence all those who oppose Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Rapporteur Ascensio urged Minsk to immediately release political prisoners, provide medical care to all those held in custody and launch a large-scale reform of the current legislation in Belarus.

He also noted the need to limit the practice of closed trials and to allow the media to work freely without fear of censorship or harassment.

The report recommended that all OSCE states “take all the necessary steps to ensure accountability for the repression in Belarus” with investigations under extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction.

France once again urged Belarus to comply with its international obligations and to follow the OSCE recommendations, starting with the release of political prisoners and ensuring access of detainees to medical care.