We condemn the politically motivated conviction and shameful sentencing on September 6 of Belarusian democratic opposition figures Maria Kalesnikava and Maksim Znak.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 16 September, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements, Tolerance and Non-discrimination | Tags: Belarus
Three days ago, we marked the one-year anniversary of the August 9 fraudulent presidential election in Belarus and the subsequent violent crackdown by the Lukashenka regime. Today, our thoughts remain with Belarusians who continue to peacefully demand respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 12 August, 2021 | Topics: Elections, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Elections, Free and Fair Elections
The United States shares the concerns of our Lithuanian and European allies regarding the significant uptick in migrants and asylum seekers irregularly crossing from Belarus to Lithuania.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 5 August, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Human Rights, Statements, Tolerance and Non-discrimination | Tags: Belarus, Lithuania
One year ago, the world witnessed the incredible strength and courage of the Belarusian people as hundreds of thousands gathered in squares across the country to peacefully protest authoritarianism and call for new free and fair elections.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 29 July, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The human rights situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate. The abuses and repression of pro-democracy activists, independent media, and civil society continue to grow.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 15 July, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements, Tolerance and Non-discrimination | Tags: Belarus
The repression and severe abuses against pro-democracy activists, independent media, members of the opposition, and civil society based on politically-motivated charges continue to grow.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 10 June, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The United States strongly condemns the forced diversion to Minsk of a flight between two EU member states and NATO Allies which appears to have been based on false pretenses and the subsequent arrest in Minsk of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofiya Sapega
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 25 May, 2021 | Topics: Statements | Tags: Belarus
In the face of massive, systematic and brutal violence following the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, 17 OSCE participating states invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism to look into serious violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 20 May, 2021 | Topics: Elections, Statements | Tags: Belarus
We are particularly concerned by the authorities’ provocative, politically-motivated arrest of members of the Belarusian Polish community.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 16 April, 2021 | Topics: Statements | Tags: Belarus
I look forward to the day when we will no longer need to raise pressing human rights challenges in Belarus in this chamber, but today is not that day.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 25 March, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The United States is proud to support today’s renewed calls for genuine dialogue between Belarusian authorities and the political opposition.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 18 March, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Today, I would like to honor a new generation of women in white clothes, this time from Belarus, who just like the Suffragettes did, are standing up for civil and political rights, and by so doing, shaping the future of their country.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 11 March, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The United States expresses its deep concern regarding the February 16 raids on the homes and offices of Belarusian journalists, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, and independent workers’ organizations in Minsk and elsewhere across the country.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 18 February, 2021 | Topics: Elections, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The “All-Belarusian People’s Assembly” is neither genuine nor inclusive of Belarusian views.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 11 February, 2021 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement on the 51st Round of the Geneva International Discussions (Conflict in Georgia) As delivered by Deputy Chief of Mission Courtney Austrian to the Permanent Council, Vienna December 17, 2020 Thank you, Mr. Chair. The United States welcomes the successful effort to convene the 51st round of the Geneva International Discussions in Geneva on December ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 17 December, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Human Rights Violations in Belarus As delivered by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council, Vienna December 17, 2020 Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. Mr. Chairperson, at the final PC of the year, it is appropriate that we take stock of events in Belarus since the fraudulent August 9 presidential election. We continue to ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 17 December, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Joint Statement on Belarus Statement Delivered by H.E. Päivi Laivola de Rosière, Ambassador of Finland, to the OSCE Ministerial Council Tirana, Albania (remotely, via Zoom) December 4, 2020 I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the following 36 participating States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 4 December, 2020 | Topics: Elections, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
OSCE Ministerial – Belarus Side Event Closing Remarks As prepared for delivery by DAS George Kent to the OSCE Side Event on Belarus Tirana, Albania (remotely, via Zoom) December 3, 2020 As we conclude today’s event, I want to express my government’s thanks to our UK colleagues, the other co-sponsors, and Minister Kofod of Denmark ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 4 December, 2020 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
On Human Rights Violations in Belarus As delivered by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 19, 2020 Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. The European Union is right. And we follow on behind their statement. The right to peaceful assembly is one that Americans jealously defend. But it’s more than that, Mr. Chairperson. ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 19 November, 2020 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Right of Reply to the Report under the Moscow Mechanism in Relation to Belarus As delivered by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 5, 2020 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ve listened closely to the discussions that have been held from some of the other countries and I think it’s ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 5 November, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Moscow Mechanism
U.S. National Statement on the Report under The Moscow Mechanism in Relation To Belarus As delivered by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 5, 2020 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the United States thanks OSCE Moscow Mechanism Rapporteur Professor Wolfgang Benedek for his compelling, thorough, and exceptionally well documented report. ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 5 November, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Moscow Mechanism
Joint Statement on the Report under The Moscow Mechanism in Relation to Belarus Statement Delivered by H.E. René Rosager Dinesen, Ambassador of Denmark to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 5, 2020 Mr Chair, I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following delegations who, acting together, on 17 September invoked the Moscow Mechanism ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 5 November, 2020 | Topics: Elections, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Moscow Mechanism
Statement to the Permanent Council
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 15 October, 2020 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement to the Permanent Council
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 8 October, 2020 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 1 October, 2020 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Moscow Mechanism
Statement at the Human Dimension Webinar
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 28 September, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Human Rights, Moscow Mechanism
Press Release issued on September 17, 2020
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 17 September, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, Press Releases, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Joint Statement by Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the UK, and the United States
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 17 September, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 17 September, 2020 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Elections, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 3 September, 2020 | Topics: Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement to the Permanent Council
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 3 September, 2020 | Topics: Statements | Tags: Belarus, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine
Media Note by the Office of the Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 29 August, 2020 | Topics: Elections, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement by Deputy Secretary Stephen E. Biegun to the Special Permanent Council
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 28 August, 2020 | Topics: Elections, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Press Release on Ambassador Gilmore Denouncing Belarusian Internet Blockage. Released August 12, 2020
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 12 August, 2020 | Topics: Elections, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Press Releases, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement delivered to the Permanent Council on July 23, 2020
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 23 July, 2020 | Topics: Elections, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement delivered at the Permanent Council on May 7, 2020 marking World Press Freedom Day.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 7 May, 2020 | Topics: Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey
A joint statement delivered to the Permanent Council announcing this year’s Democracy Defender Award winner.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 12 March, 2020 | Topics: Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement delivered at the Permanent Council on the Parliamentary Elections in Belarus.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 21 November, 2019 | Topics: Elections, Statements | Tags: Belarus
Statement delivered at the Human Dimesnsion Implementation Meeting 2019 under Any Other Business.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 27 September, 2019 | Topics: Statements | Tags: Belarus, Turkmenistan
U.S. Statement delivered at HDIM 2019 Working Session 6 on the Freedom of Assembly
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By | 19 September, 2019 | Topics: Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Crimea, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine
U.S. Statement on Fundamental Freedoms of Free Expression and Media delivered at HDIM's Working Session 1.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 16 September, 2019 | Topics: Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Statement at HDIM Working Session 3: Freedom of the Media (Part 2)
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 11 September, 2018 | Topics: Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan
We have been following with deep concern reports regarding the response by government authorities to peaceful public demonstrations that took place in several locations in Belarus over the last weekend.
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By | 30 March, 2017 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media has been a vocal and courageous advocate for freedom of expression, both on- and off-line.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 1 December, 2016 | Topics: Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Hungary, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan
In Vienna in 1989, all participating States committed to, “respect the right of everyone to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State, and to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.” This right is still not fully respected in all participating States. Let me make it ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 27 September, 2016 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
In establishing the Representative on Freedom of the Media in 1997, the OSCE participating States recognized that “free, independent, and pluralistic media are essential to a free and open society and accountable systems of government.”
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 22 September, 2016 | Topics: Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Freedom of association is necessary for the fullest exercise of the freedoms of expression and of religion or belief, and for the conduct of free and fair elections. It is a cornerstone for the rights of persons seeking to form independent trade unions.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 21 September, 2016 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Freedom of Assembly & Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan
In many participating States, the exercise of peaceful assembly and association is subject to undue and serious restrictions.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 21 September, 2016 | Topics: Freedom of Assembly & Association, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, United States
Elections are an essential element of democracy and a cornerstone of democratic institutions. The U.S. greatly appreciates the OSCE’s invaluable role in election observation – indeed, this organization has developed what is known as the “gold standard” for its methodology on evaluating elections.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 19 September, 2016 | Topics: Elections, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United States
The actions of some participating States in the past few weeks do not appear consistent with OSCE commitments on free expression.
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 11 February, 2016 | Topics: Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Kazakhstan
The United States joins other participating States in welcoming the peaceful conduct of the October 11 presidential election in Belarus. We were, however, disappointed that the election fell significantly short of Belarus’ OSCE commitments and international standards for holding democratic elections, as demonstrated by reports from the OSCE ODIHR and Parliamentary Assembly election observation mission. ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 15 October, 2015 | Topics: Elections, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The United States, for several years, has used this agenda item to follow up on the invocation of the Moscow Mechanism concerning Turkmenistan and Belarus. The United States believes it is important that we continue to use our human rights mechanisms – and that means we, the participating States, need to take action based on the outcomes of ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 2 October, 2015 | Topics: Elections, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Turkmenistan
For many years, and as recently as May, the United States has used the Permanent Council to call on the government of Belarus to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, and to restore fully their political and civil rights. Consequently, the United States welcomes the August 22 release from prison in Belarus of Mikalai ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 3 September, 2015 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The United States is concerned by recent developments in the treatment of political prisoners in Belarus. On May 4, former presidential candidate Mikolai Statkevich was sentenced to harsher prison conditions and increased security measures for alleged violations of prison rules. Mr. Statkevich is serving a six-year sentence related to his participation in peaceful protests following ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 7 May, 2015 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Statements | Tags: Belarus
The United States for several years has used this agenda item to follow up on the recommendations made by the fact-finding missions resulting from the invocation of the Moscow Mechanism concerning Turkmenistan and Belarus. Because the conditions that gave rise to invocations of the Mechanism remain ongoing, my delegation will again address these serious issues. ...
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By U.S. Mission OSCE | 3 October, 2014 | Topics: Civil Society and NGOs, Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Belarus, Turkmenistan
