Statement by the delegation of Belarus at the OSCE in response to the statement by the delegation of Poland on behalf of a group of delegations

Dear Chairperson,

Today's initiative by a number of delegations is nothing more than a propaganda gesture designed for the public and social media. Instead of a responsible approach, we see emotional accusations and a complete disregard for the real state of affairs.

Unfortunately, this is yet another manifestation of the degeneration of the Western diplomacy, absorbed in Twitter rhetoric and manipulation of the topic of human rights.

We regard what is happening as interference in domestic affairs and an attempt to exert pressure on the legitimate authority of an OSCE participating State.

Belarus has already repeatedly pointed out: there are no “political” articles in our legislation. Attempts to present lawbreakers as “political prisoners” are speculation devoid of legal meaning.

We call on you to abandon double standards and ideological blackmail. We are ready to discuss all issues — but only in the format of respectful, professional dialog, without threats and sanctions dictate.

Distinguished colleagues,

We would like to recall that statements have already been made in this chamber by certain Western and pro-Western delegations condemning — and I quote — “individuals whose actions posed a threat to national security”. End of quote.

In Belarus, when there is a threat to national security or the fact of violation of criminal and administrative legislation, the violators are brought to responsibility for their specific offenses. And there is no politics in this.

In similar situations, law enforcement agencies of the European Union countries act without hesitation: they immediately detain and place undesirable persons in custody. And no one here questions the validity of such measures.

Against that background, the unprecedented cynicism of certain EU Governments is deeply surprising and outrageous. So-called non-governmental structures controlled and financed by them, often acting outside the legal framework, almost openly incite citizens of Belarus to commit illegal actions, such as photographing movements of military equipment or disclosure of personal data of law enforcement officers. These structures promise some kind of “support afterwards”, knowing perfectly well that they will not provide any real assistance.

As a result, such people naturally come to the attention of law enforcement agencies, they are brought to justice, their fates are broken, and those who provoked them simply forget about them, hastily adding them to yet another list of so-called “political prisoners”. And nothing else.

This is precisely the kind of cynical and immoral practice that should be considered and condemned within the framework of the OSCE Permanent Council.

And a few more comments and questions about the so-called “group of friends”, although the more accurate definition is “a group of opponents”.

Let us emphasize separately: there is neither “democratic” nor “non-democratic” Belarus. Stop creating simulacra. There is one and only one sovereign state — the Republic of Belarus, with its capital in the hero-city of Minsk. If you have questions and claims — telephone there, travel there. You will be listened to there.

However, you will probably have to wait 15-16 hours in a queue on the Polish or Lithuanian side of the border for this purpose — this is a direct consequence of the restrictions on direct air communication with Minsk, introduced by you. At the same time, you will hear interesting comments in your address.

And in conclusion. We would be sincerely interested today to hear information, for example, about the past elections in Poland, about the reaction to the stolen elections in Romania, about the unprecedented interference of the special services of one of the founding countries of the EU in the electoral process in Romania. The whole of Europe was discussing these campaigns, but for some reason not the OSCE. Why? The question is a rhetorical one.

Such selectivity and ritual mentioning of so-called political prisoners in Belarus is, in fact, a way to divert attention from real, acute problems with human rights and functioning of democratic institutions in the EU countries themselves.

Thank you for the attention.

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