The delegation of the Belarusian democratic forces to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) held a meeting with PACE President Petra Bayr. The Belarusian delegation was represented by Aliaksandra Mamaeva, Paval Latushka, Valery Matskevich, Maryharyta Vorykhava and delegation secretary Kseniya Lutskina.

The delegation thanked PACE for its decision allowing the official delegation of the Belarusian democratic forces, formed from members of the Coordination Council, to work within the Assembly. It was confirmed that, following the formation of a new delegation by the newly elected Coordination Council, its participation in PACE would continue.

The PACE president was briefed on the results of the elections to the fourth convocation of the Coordination Council and on the pressure that accompanied the electoral process. Among the delegation’s key achievements, its members highlighted the adoption of the January 2025 resolution on Belarus, work on more than 10 PACE reports, the adoption of a declaration on religious freedom in Belarus, amendments to resolutions on accountability for the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children and on countering transnational repression, 27 meetings with national delegations, and hearings on political prisoners.

The parties discussed consideration of the “Situation in Belarus” resolution at upcoming PACE sessions and expanding the delegation’s opportunities to work in PACE committees. Delegation members also informed the PACE president about the human rights situation, the number of political prisoners, the continuation of the Lukashenka regime’s repressive policies and the absence of any signs of domestic political normalization in Belarus.

The delegation presented the strategy of the Belarusian democratic forces, including support for US efforts to secure the release of political prisoners through sanctions pressure and appeals to European partners to use sanctions to halt the Lukashenka regime’s repressive and aggressive policies. They also outlined their approach to a future national dialogue based on a roundtable format as a way out of the political crisis.

Particular attention was paid to the regime’s responsibility for crimes against humanity committed against the Belarusian people, war crimes related to the transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus and the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The delegation stressed the importance of establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and of amendments proposed by the Belarusian delegation to Council of Europe documents that would create a legal basis for extending the tribunal’s jurisdiction to Belarus’ top political leadership.

The meeting also addressed efforts to counter the “Russian world” ideology and sanctions policy. The delegation emphasized that sanctions should target the regime rather than ordinary people. Mobility, protection of rights and the legalization of the status of Belarusians abroad remain among the delegation’s priorities.

Petra Bayr expressed her support for the Belarusian democratic movement, said that the delegation’s work “is visible,” and backed the idea of expanding the delegation’s opportunities to work within PACE, the Coordination Council’s press service reported.