Irish parliament’s mission to prepare report on Belarus

May 5, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja discussed an Irish parliamentary mission to Warsaw and Vilnius during her May 4 meeting with Jerry Buttimer, speaker of the Irish Senate.

The mission will prepare a report on Belarus based on meetings with Belarusian activists, journalists, and victims of politically-motivated persecution, her aide Franak Viačorka told BPN. The Irish parliament is also preparing a resolution on Belarus, he added.

Buttimer wished to take patronage of one of the Belarusian political prisoners and to encourage other senators to join the campaign, Viačorka said. Senate members will join the Friends of Belarus group if one is formed in parliament, he added.

Cichanoŭskaja, on her part, stressed the importance of enforcing sanctions and ensuring accountability for judges and prosecutors for human rights abuses in Belarus.

The Belarusian opposition leader also met with the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, discussing Belarusian political prisoners and Ireland’s support to Belarusian media, human rights activists and cultural projects.

On the same day, the politician also met with Dublin Mayor Caroline Conroy. Their meeting focused on the support of the Belarusian diaspora, internships for young Belarusians and other projects.