{"id":117209,"date":"2024-12-07T19:48:58","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T16:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/117209\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"osce-group-reminds-minsk-of-its-commitments-calls-for-free-election","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/117209\/","title":{"rendered":"OSCE group reminds Minsk of its commitments, calls for free election"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Minsk-Novosti)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 7, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Members of the informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus in a joint statement released yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirty-seven countries joined the statement adopted following the 31st Ministerial Council of the OSCE that took place on December 5 and 6 in Malta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusians who try to \u201cexercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms continue to be subjected to intimidation, harassment, abuse and arbitrary detention, including acts of transnational repression while in exile,\u201d they stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arbitrary arrests and politically-motivated persecution in Belarus outpace the ongoing pardons, the statement noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The OSCE group urged Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners, reminding Minsk of its responsibility to implement its commitments, including those under the 2020 Tirana Ministerial Council Decision on Prevention and Eradication of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities must “allow Belarusian citizens to participate in free and fair elections, with genuine choice and without fear of repression,” the statement stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus will hold its seventh presidential election from January 21 to 26, with the whole election cycle limited to just three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current presidential campaign is taking place in a purged political landscape amid a new wave of crackdown on regime critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus has not held a single free and fair election since 1996 by the standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The previous 2020 presidential race was marred by fraud and police brutality against peaceful protesters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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