U.S. Welcomes Belarus Invitation for Election Observers in March

2006-01-20

Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State

The United States has welcomed a decision by Belarus to invite international observers to monitor elections in March, but a U.S. official also urged Belarus to stop harassing human-rights workers in the country.

Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martinov formally has invited the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe elections March 19, the OSCE said. The international organization monitors democracy and human rights throughout Europe and Eurasia.

"This is a very welcome step," said Kyle Scott, charge d'affaires for the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, in a January 19 statement to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Austria.

However, Scott went on to express concern over the Belarus government's repeated prosecution of the Belarus Helsinki Committee (BHC), a nongovernmental organization that reports on human-rights violations and monitors elections.

He noted that the Belarus Supreme Economic Court recently reinstated "harsh and unwarranted penalties" against the BHC - including $75,000 in fines and back taxes -- on charges of tax evasion. "BHC has already successfully defended itself in court from these charges a number of times, including in the Supreme Economic Court," Scott said.

"The decision appears to be an attempt to silence one of the most outspoken advocates for human rights and freedom of speech and assembly in Belarus," he said, adding that the United States believes the prosecution of the BHC is "politically motivated."

In the time leading up to the country's elections, "it is critical that independent organizations such as the BHC are allowed to operate without undue restrictions," Scott said.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who is also the chairman in office for the OSCE, also welcomed the Belarus invitation for election observers.

"I expect that the authorities of Belarus will ensure that all eligible candidates be permitted to register and that the election process be conducted in a free and fair manner, including unimpeded access to the media by all candidates," De Gucht said in a brief OSCE statement January 19.