Visit of representatives of Belarusian civil society
06.09.2022
The Permanent Representative, ambassador Jerzy Baurski was honoured to host a meeting for the interested delegations with Mr Alexander Shlyk, Special Representative of Mrs Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for the elections and Mr Aleh Hulak, Chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.
The main issue to consider was how the Council of Europe could play its role in supporting Belarusian civil society.
Representatives of states discoursed on support democratic aspirations of Belarusian citizens in the context of the persecution of dissenting voices in Belarus. The discussion allowed to learn about some new ideas of the civil society and democratic forces of Belarus, concerning the prospects for more cooperation with the Council of Europe.
During last two years that followed the rigged elections in Belarus, a number of important statements have been made by the highest representatives of the Council of Europe. For example, last year the Secretary-General expressed publically her concern about the liquidation of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee1, one of the oldest NGOs defending human rights in that country and a part of the global Helsinki movement. The organisation that has been a long-standing partner of the Council of Europe. It is also worth to note the recent statement published by the Commissioner for Human rights2, where she says: “I consider civil society activists, human rights defenders and independent journalists, including from the Russian Federation and Belarus, as natural partners of the Council of Europe because they share the same values and courageously continue to work for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. ” Also other bodies, like the Parliamentary Assembly, has devoted a number of discussions and reports to Belarus, recommending that the Council of Europe’s countries strengthen their actions in favour of human rights in Belarus.
We hope that our cooperation with democratic forces will be strengthen in order to better support the people of Belarus in their struggle for democracy, independence, sovereignty and freedom.
Links to the source texts:
1. https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/statement-by-the-secretary-general-of-the-council-of-europe-concerning-the-reported-liquidation-of-the-belarusian-helsinki-committee
2. https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/support-russian-and-belarusian-civil-societies-and-human-rights-defenders
