Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

A democratic future for Belarus

Addendum to the report | Doc. 15892 Add. | 23 January 2024

Committee
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
Rapporteur :
Mr Kimmo KILJUNEN, Finland, SOC
Origin
Addendum to the report Doc. 15892, approved by the committee on 23 January 2024. 2024 - First part-session

1 Proposed amendments to the draft resolution

Amendment A

In paragraph 2, after the first sentence, insert the following sentence:

“It acknowledges and supports the European aspirations declared by Ms Tsikhanouskaya and the Belarusian democratic forces.”

Amendment B

In paragraph 5, first sentence, after the words “are curtailed,” insert the following words:

“where opposition political parties are liquidated and their leaders persecuted”

Amendment C

In paragraph 5, first sentence, after the words “against these violations,” insert the following words:

“where no credible domestic or international election observation is allowed,”

Amendment D

At the end of paragraph 11.1, insert the following words:

“and its further strengthening.”

Amendment E

In paragraph 12.1, first sentence, replace the words “a representative delegation” with the following words:

“a representative delegation of Belarusian democratic forces”.

Amendment F

After paragraph 12.7, insert the following paragraph:

“reaffirming its support for political pluralism, encourages its political groups to engage with Belarusian democratic political parties;”

Amendment G

After paragraph 12.8, insert the following paragraph:

“notes the Urgent interim opinion on the Constitutional Reform in Belarus of 21 February 2022 of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), and its comments on the Draft Constitution of Belarus elaborated by the Belarusian democratic forces, and encourages the Venice Commission, in line with its statute, to continue to provide its expertise on constitutional reform in Belarus and to co-operate further on strengthening the democratic forces’ capacity to address issues relating to legislation and judicial practice.”

2 Explanatory memorandum

1. At its meeting on 12-13 December 2023, the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy considered a draft report and adopted draft resolution “A democratic future for Belarus”, with a view to presenting it at the January 2024 part-session. At the same meeting, the composition of an ad hoc Sub Committee to participate in the Helsinki Dialogue on Belarus was approved. The ad hoc Sub Committee met in Helsinki on 11-12 January 2024.
2. The Helsinki Dialogue brought together leading representatives of Belarusian democratic forces, members of civil society, and journalists in exile, as well as parliamentarians from across Europe.Note The participants engaged in discussions on building a democratic future for Belarus, providing a platform to address crucial issues concerning the country's current situation and its democratic prospects.
3. These discussions were of direct relevance to the report “A democratic future for Belarus”, and it is on the basis of these discussions that I provide a number of amendments in order to further strengthen the draft resolution.