Anatol Lyabedzka: “Besides abolition of death penalty, the main condition – free elections – must be fulfilled”

Leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka represented the democratic forces of Belarus at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The politician told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center that the today’s PACE decision to restore the special guest status of Belarus only after abolition of the death penalty was “comma, but not a period”.

“We are satisfied with the PACE’s decision, because the matter of returning the special guest status to Belarus considered to be solved. It was seen in the reaction of the Belarusian MPs. The refusal must have come as a surprise for them. It seemed to me there were some arrangements with someone. But the strong side of international democratic organizations is that unofficial arrangements can’t work.

I’d like to see the main condition – carrying out free elections in Belarus – near the condition “abolition of death penalty”, because democratic elections may solve the issue of the death penalty and other problems of Belarus. I am happy to see members of the Assembly who adhere to principal positions. Carrying out free elections was much discussed. That is the reason why the Belarusian authorities don’t want to join the Council of Europe; they would have been satisfied with the special guest status, they would have been proud of it regarding this as their merit. Joining the Council of Europe needs far more conditions,” Anatol Lyabedzka told.

The politician said he was going to meet with PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig. Lyabedzka is going to discuss an issue of consideration of amendments to the Electoral Code of Belarus, prepared by the Belarusian opposition, by the Venice Commission.