Poland’s Representative To OSCE: Belarus Will Prevail Over Totalitarianism

At a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, the issue of dictatorship in Belarus was raised.

At a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on February 16, representatives of the European Union and Great Britain raised the issue of political repressions in Belarus.

The statement of the EU Delegation to the OSCE notes that almost every day there are new examples of arbitrary and harsh politically motivated sentences at political trials in Belarus, Belsat reports. Last week, Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist and one of the leaders of the Union of Poles, was sentenced on a trumped-up charge.

“This shameful verdict is directed not only against this courageous journalist, but is another act in the anti-Polish campaign of the Belarusian authorities,” the statement emphasizes.

Also in Vienna, they mentioned the trial of members of the Viasna human rights center and its leader, Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski. It is emphasized that the politically motivated accusations relate to the legitimate human rights activities of Viasna.

The EU strongly condemns the brutal political repression and pledges to continue to support all people striving for a free, democratic and independent Belarus.

“The EU reiterates its call to Minsk to immediately and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all those illegally detained, including Andrzej Poczobut and all members of Viasna, stop violating the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Belarusian people, start a real and inclusive dialogue with the democratic forces and ensure a peaceful political transition to a democratic society,” the statement emphasizes.

Following today's meeting in Vienna, Poland's representative to the OSCE Adam Hałacinśki posted on Twitter:

“Belarus will prevail over totalitarianism. And this will happen due to the courage of its people, including those imprisoned by the regime. Abuse of power ends with loss of power.”

Deirdre Brown, Deputy Representative of the United Kingdom to the OSCE, also called for the release of political prisoners in Belarus. She separately drew attention to the persecution of journalists and recalled that 33 media representatives are currently in custody in Belarus.