Aleh Aheyeu: Belarus should join Council of Europe
The Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus met last week in Strasbourg to discuss plans for 2024–2025. Attendees included representatives of the newly elected Coordinating Council, the Office of Sviatlana Tilhanouskaya, and the United Transitional Cabinet. The group also included human rights defenders and youth organizations from the public sector. The media sector was represented by Aleh Aheyeu, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists and lawyer.
Course on strengthening independent media
For two days, meetings were held with representatives of various structural units of the Organization to discuss the biennial plan. There was also a reception at the Polish Mission attended by representatives of Council of Europe member States.
“At both meetings, the situation in Belarus was discussed, including an overview of the country’s current affairs, the processes taking place in Belarusian diaspora, and the assistance the Council of Europe can provide,” explains Aleh Aheyeu. “The Council of Europe does not provide direct assistance to the media. Instead, it supports standards of freedom of speech and monitors the fulfillment of commitments made by Council of Europe member states.”
The fact that the Belarusian state is not a member of the Council of Europe and that the members of the Contact Group do not represent state bodies had a significant impact on the subject under discussion.
One of the key objectives of the Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus is to reinforce the independence of the Belarusian media sector.
Two events took place in 2023: in Strasbourg and Warsaw. The Council of Europe has developed a cooperation plan for 2024–2025. For the first time in its history, the Council is interacting directly with non-state actors, rather than representatives of state bodies.
Previously, the perception was that only states and state institutions were subjects of cooperation. However, the structures of the Council of Europe – from the Secretary-General to individual divisions – are now engaging in communication and joint work with representatives of civil society and democratic forces.
“It is of great importance to us that Belarus becomes a member of the Council of Europe. It is the responsibility of all democratic forces involved in cooperation to create conditions that will allow Belarus to take its place among civilized countries in the event of a change of power and political reforms. This will be achieved by respecting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The Council of Europe is based on these three pillars – it is about values, not economics,» Aleh Aheyeu emphasized.
“The events that have already taken place and those that are being planned are designed to increase the awareness of the Council of Europe’s activity in the Belarusian society and, accordingly, to facilitate cooperation between the Council of Europe and us.”
The Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus: what is it?
Since March 1993, Belarus has been a candidate member of the Council of Europe. However, as a result of the activities of the Lukashenka regime, the cooperation between the structures of the Council of Europe and the official Minsk is constantly decreasing. As a result, the Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus was established in September 2022. This group included representatives of Belarusian democratic forces and civil society.
The creation of the Contact Group on Belarus is a unique case. For the first time, a country is represented not by state institutions, but by democratic forces and civil society.
The Council of Europe is the continent’s oldest international political organization. Its primary objectives are the protection of human rights, the advancement of democracy, and the reinforcement of the rule of law in all member countries.
The Council of Europe was established on May 5, 1949, and currently comprises 46 European countries. Its headquarters are located in Strasbourg, France. Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in March 2022 following its aggression against Ukraine.