Belarusian democrats hold consultations in Council of Europe

Representatives of the Belarusian civil society have started today their visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

The Belarusian delegation is composed of Natallya Kalayada and Mikalai Khalezin, the heads of the Belarus Free Theatre and Free Belarus Now campaign; representative of the Centre for Legal Information Volha Smalyanka; co-chairman of the organizing committee to create the Belarusian Movement Vintsuk Vyachorka; and civil activists Frypdar Maslennikau and Artsyom Sharkou.

Activists of the Belarusian civil society had a meeting with Cyril Ritchie, the rapporteur on Belarus in the Council of Europe’s Conference of INGOs; and Annelise Oeschger, the chair of the Human Rights Committee of the INGOs Conference.

Belarusians also plan to meet with representatives of a number of states – Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, the UK and representatives of the Venice Commission dealing with legislation-related issues. Also, meetings with all political groups of the Council of Europe are expected.

Belarus’s representatives take part in the PACE’s Political Committee sitting tomorrow, where the Belarusian issue will be discussed with a focus on Belarusian political prisoners. Belarusians are also expected to hold a meeting with Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights.