Restoring the rights of victims of serious international crimes in Belarus was the central focus of meetings held by Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), with permanent representatives of democratic countries to the OSCE on June 27-28, 2024, in Vienna.
Mr. Latushka and NAM lawyers met with representatives from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Canada, the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, the EU, and Liechtenstein. During these meetings, they presented their position on the potential of underutilized OSCE mechanisms in addressing the situation in Belarus, emphasizing their importance in restoring the rights of victims. The nature of the discussions suggests that partner actions in this direction are forthcoming.
At the request of the OSCE permanent representatives, Mr. Latushka provided updates on the Lukashenko regime's continued support for Russia's war against Ukraine and the regime's escalation of the migration crisis on the border with the European Union.
The illegal movement of civilians from Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine to Belarus was also a point of concern. Several permanent representatives from European countries highlighted the advisability of establishing a unified platform within the OSCE, potentially through a "friends of democratic Belarus" group, to coordinate all initiatives related to accountability in the Belarusian context.
Pavel Latushka also briefed his partners on the concerning situation of Andrei Gnyot, a Belarusian activist and film director, and the risks associated with his potential extradition from Serbia to Belarus. Key partner countries are closely monitoring the situation, indicating a commitment to providing the necessary diplomatic and legal support.
Furthermore, at the request of the permanent representatives, Pavel Latushka shared information about the results of the Coordination Council elections and ongoing efforts to strengthen Belarusian democratic institutions.