PACE rapporteur on Belarus arrives in Minsk

Sinikka Hurskainen has arrived in Minsk to gather information, hold meetings with people and discuss the situation in the country.

The rapporteur on Belarus of the political affairs committee at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said this on August 23 at a meeting with Viktar Huminski, a deputy head of the “house of representatives” of the “national assembly” of Belarus, BelaPAN reports.

According to Mrs Hurskainen, she is interested in three aspects of the Belarusian situation, namely human rights, democracy, and rule of law. The rapporteur said she would like to know what had been done in Belarus since the last visit. She noted she knew about bad news regarding death penalties.

The PACE rapporteur plans to stay in Belarus for three days. Mrs Sinikka Hurskainen is expected to have a number of official meetings as well as meetings with representatives of the opposition and NGOs.

Mrs Hurskainen visited Belarus in February 2010 last time along with previous PACE rapporteur on Belarus Andrea Rigoni.

In late April, Mrs Sinikka Hurskainen presented a draft resolution on Belarus calling the Council of Europe to limit high-level contacts but continue a dialogue with the authorities and civil society.