On February 19, a side event titled “Belarus and OSCE PA: Way Forward to Democracy and Humanitarian Priorities” took place during the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered remarks, noting that there is currently no legitimate Belarusian delegation in the OSCE PA, yet the Belarusian people deserve to have their voice heard. She thanked Sweden, Norway, and Lithuania for their principled support of Belarusians, including the establishment of the “For a Democratic Belarus” Parliamentary Group in Norway and the launch of the International Humanitarian Fund.
The Belarusian delegation also included Coordination Council members Artsiom Brukhan, Aliaksandra Mamaeva, and Yury Hubarevich. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka; Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau; and Ihar Barysau of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) attended the event as well.
The discussion placed special emphasis on the humanitarian situation. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, presented a detailed analysis of the scale of repression, the practice of incommunicado detention, and the “invisible” human rights violations taking place.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I sincerely believe that the OSCE can play a key role in resolving the Belarusian crisis. This organization was established precisely to address such challenges. What is happening in Belarus today is a political and legal default. Human rights are being ignored. Elections have turned into a complete sham. Repression continues every day.
And yet, last year we witnessed the release of political prisoners. This was the result of joint efforts – first and foremost, the humanitarian work of the United States, but also European pressure. Because without pressure, the regime would never have released people.
We must ensure that systemic changes take place in Belarus – and that repression ends and Belarus becomes free”.
