OSCE PA delegation concerned over abductions in Belarus

The OSCE PA delegation harshly criticizes abductions of oppositionists, repressions against the opposition, absence of freedom of speech and associations.

Cecilia Wigstrom, the head of the OSCE PA working group, said at a press conference in Minsk on December 22 that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is concerned over the facts of abductions of youth activists in Belarus, BelaPAN reports.

Wigstrom said a problem of arrests of and repressions against political opponents had been discussed. She expressed her concern over facts of abductions of young people. the delegation head also added the Assembly was informed about new administrative arrests and expulsion of a student from university.

According to her, these facts as well as a question of annulling article 193-1 of the Criminal Code (activity in behalf of an unregistered organization) was discussed at a meeting with representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Justice. The deputy minister infromed a question of that article repeal was being considered, Wigstrom said. She added the article creates problems for lot of political parties and public organizations.

The working group of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is also concerned over the situation with freedom of mass media and freedom of assemblies in Belarus, as well as over opportunities for political parties to take full part in the political life of the country.

It has been stated by Cecilia Wigstrom, the objective of the three-day visit of the delegation to Belarus was to see how the situation in the country develops. The delegation held a number of meetings with representatives of Belarusian authorities, civil society and political parties.

During the meetings the Belarusian authorities were called upon development and expanding the dialogue with international organizations, including the OSCE, Cecilia Wigstrom said. She said that they highly appreciate the intensive dialogue between Belarus and the OSCE and other structures on improving democratic processes, but she noted that much is to be done yet.

According to her, one of the main issues for discussion during the meeting was amendments recently made to the Electoral Code of Belarus. The head of the delegation however refused to comment on the amendments.

She said that she was not authorized to comment on them, as the full text of the amended electoral legislation hadn’t been received by them. The PA is still waiting for it, she said. The OSCE and the ODIHR had offered Belarus a detailed and full list of recommendations for changing the law. The Assembly hopes it had been taken into account, Cecilia Wigstrom said.

Polish MP Pawel Poncyljusz, a delegation member, noted in turn that the recommendations were made after observation over the parliamentary elections in Belarus in 2008.

“Two main problems which caused concern existed then: registration of candidates and vote count. We are pleased to note that one of these problems (registration of candidates) has been solved by these amendments. We are still expecting vote count problem to be solved,” he said.

We remind that cases of abductions have become more frequent in Belarus. On December 5, leader of “Young Front” Zmitser Dashkevich was kidnapped. Unknown people held him in a car for 5.5 hours and allowed him to get out of the car 70 kilometres away from Minsk. On December 6, “European Belarus” activist Yauhen Afnahel was kidnapped. He was left 20 kilometres away from Minsk. Activist of “European Belarus” Uladzimir Lemesh was taken out of town a week before those events. Unknown people beat him and demanded that he should stop his political activity. Six youth activists have been kidnapped this year. Oppositionists suppose the abductions were organized by the secret services.