{"id":145365,"date":"2025-07-04T22:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T19:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/145365\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"osce-group-calls-on-minsk-to-end-crackdown-on-opponents","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/145365\/","title":{"rendered":"OSCE group: Belarus must end crackdown on opponents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (osce.org)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

July 4, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Permanent representatives of 37 countries in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) called for an end to politically-motivated reprisals in Belarus, urging Minsk to release all jailed regime critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sibylle Osten-Vaa, German envoy to the OSCE, made the statement on behalf of 29 members of the informal group of friends of democratic Belarus yesterday, on the occasion of Belarus’ official Independence Day. Eight other countries, including Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, North Macedonia and San Marino, aligned themselves with the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noting the recent release of Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski with the help of Washington, the group stressed that at least 1,170 other dissidents remain behind bars in Belarus, suffering from torture and ill-treatment, held in isolation and denied essential medical care. At least eight died in prison after being subjected to these inhumane conditions, the statement noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian regime critics released from prisons are often forced to flee Belarus or face continuous reprisals if they decide to stay home, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Belarusian authorities continue to arrest and detain opponents or people perceived as such and to suppress independent media, in disregard of international obligations and OSCE principles and commitments,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group called on Minsk to stop persecuting individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, allow freedom of association, release all political prisoners, ensure fair and humane treatment of all prisoners and grant access to adequate medical care for those in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will continue to support the Belarusian people\u2019s aspiration for a free, democratic and independent Belarus,\u201d the statement stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian foreign ministry reacted with a confrontational statement targeting Germany and reminding of the Nazi crimes committed during the Second World War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It would have been far more appropriate for the German representative to express repentance for the atrocities of Nazi Germany, rather than once again inflating imaginary problems and pushing pressure tactics on countries that don\u2019t align with their agenda,” it said on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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