Mr. Osmani and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the implementation of the Moscow Mechanism invoked by the OSCE against Belarus. They agreed on the need for an assessment of its execution and steps for its practical implementation.
During the meeting, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the situation of political prisoners, many of whom are being held incommunicado in inhumane conditions. She proposed that the OSCE ODIHR should continue attempting to gain access to prisoners in jails and demanding the immediate release of all those arrested on political grounds.
The parties also talked about the 2024 “elections”. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that if they take place, they will be a “farce and imitation”. She noted that it is impossible to hold free elections while Lukashenka is in power and that the OSCE should release an appropriate assessment of this.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya proposed putting Belarus on the agenda at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference, which will take place in Warsaw in early October, and at the conference in Skopje later this year. She suggested that the OSCE hold a separate discussion on Russia's role in suppressing Belarusian identity.
The OSCE is currently facing an organizational crisis due to Russia and Lukashenka's regime abusing the unanimous voting mechanisms and blocking Estonia's upcoming rotating chairmanship in 2024.
