Cichanoŭskaja urges OSCE to press for release of political prisoners as it engages with Minsk
November 13, Pozirk. Belarusian pro-democracy leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja met with Feridun Sinirlioğlu, secretary general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Dublin, Ireland, on November 13, urging him to use his contacts with Belarusian authorities to push for the release of the political prisoners and an end to repression and to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Sinirlioğlu visited Minsk on November 3 and 4 to have meetings with Alaksandar Łukašenka and Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzankoŭ and take part in the Fourth Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. In its press release, the OSCE said that during his meetings in Minsk, Sinirlioğlu reaffirmed “the OSCE’s central role as a platform for dialogue and diplomatic engagement across its vast geography and emphasized the Organization’s comprehensive approach to security.”
While meeting with Sinirlioğlu, Lukašenka criticized the OSCE for allegedly ignoring the Ukraine war. In his speech at the security conference later in the day, he warned that the organization could function properly if it adopted Belarus’ “unifying agenda,” which includes arms control but excludes human rights.
Secretary general touts OSCE as “platform for dialogue” during Minsk visit
November 4, Pozirk. Feridun Sinirlioğlu, secretary general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), during his meetings in Minsk this week, reaffirmed “the OSCE’s central role as a platform for dialogue and diplomatic engagement across its vast …
