6 February 2021
The Belarusian People’s Congress is not an inclusive platform that truly represents the views of the Belarusian society, and therefore it does not contribute to the resolution of the current political crisis in the country, the U.S. Embassy in Minsk states.
The embassy said in a statement that “the Lukashenko regime opened its ‘All-Belarusian People’s Assembly’ on 11 February, which it claims includes representatives from across Belarus for the purpose of determining the country’s priorities for the next five years and may consider possible amendments to the country’s constitution.”
Yet this ‘All-Belarusian People’s Assembly’ is neither genuine nor inclusive of Belarusian views and therefore does not address the country’s ongoing political crisis. The government has jailed Belarusian protest leaders, activists, and dissidents – often on falsified charges – and forcibly exiled others.
The political prisoners, those in exile, and the estimated 30,000 others arrested since August 2020 deserve the right to a voice in determining their country’s future through a genuine, inclusive dialogue – as well as through free and fair elections,” reads the statement.
The United States Embassy believes the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism Report provides a clear, specific road map to inclusiveness and urges the regime to accept the OSCE Chairmanship’s offer to facilitate a genuine, inclusive national dialogue.
“Accepting and implementing the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism recommendations could turn Belarus toward a path to political reconciliation, stability, and democratic progress,” said the United States representatives.
