Bruce Connak: “Belarus Does Not Comply With OSCE Standards” :: Charter'97 :: News

“Belarus does not comply with the OSCE standards in the area of mass media freedom, elections and non-governmental organizations”. This statement was made by the Chargé d`Affaires at the US Mission to the OSCE Bruce Connuck on February, 12 at the meeting of the Permanent Council of the organization in Vienna, BelaPAN agency informs.

Bruce Connuck underlined that large tax sanctions against Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the Belarusian authorities` repeated efforts to halt the publication and distribution of various independent newspapers, as well as unwillingness to work with problematic questions in the area of elections and electoral legislation, indicated by the Office on Democratic Institutions and Human rights (ODIHR OSCE).

Bruce Connuck emphasized that the parliamentary elections in autumn this year represent an opportunity for Belarus to demonstrate its commitment to principles of the OSCE. “Belarus can take an essential first step by lifting restrictions on the operations of civil society and the media, and on the participation of political parties”.