Trade Union activist identified persons who hit him with baseball bats :: Charter'97 :: News

On July 9, on the last day of the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, by majority of votes a resolution on situation in Belarus earlier approved by Committee on Political Affairs and Security of the PA OSCE (the so-called Kyiv Declaration) was passed. The Declaration consists of separate resolutions, which drafts had been approved by relevant PA OSCE committees.

A Rapporteur on Belarus, Kristian Pihl Lorentzen (MP Denmark) stated that during a round table on Belarus held in Kyiv on July 7, leaders of four Belarusian oppositional parties made statements. “Their reports have moved those present sincerely,” the Rapporteur underlined, and added that the resolution on Belarus proposed for vote is “balanced”.

As a result, after the PA OSCE President Goran Lennmarker, offered the document for vote, it was passed by majority of votes.

As we have informed, in its resolution the PA OSCE urges Belarusian government “to use the EU initiative on good neighborhood”, follow international commitments and follow international principles connected with the idea of a free and democratic state, “including measures on improving the situation enumerated in the unofficial document of the European Commission”. The PA OSCE calls upon the Belarusian regime “to amend the Electoral Code and ratify it”, and to invite the OSCE “to take part in observation at all future elections”.

Besides, the PA OSCE calls upon the Belarusian government to “respect the right of expression of opinions and for access to independent information in national and international mass media”. The document also contains an appeal to respect rights of non-governmental organizations, not interfere with their legal existence, not subject NGO members to harassment and persecution, and allow them receiving international support”. The PA OSCE calls upon the authorities “to release all political prisoners, carry out independent investigation, or reconsider cases concerning abducted persons”.