European Interest

Council of Europe: Committee of Ministers suspends relations with the Belarusian authorities

FLICKR/АЛЕКСАНДР КУЗНЕЦОВ/CC BY-NC 2.0
A view of Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

The Committee of Ministers has decided to suspend all relations with Belarus as a result of the country’s active participation in the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In its decision, the Committee of Ministers suspends the rights of Belarus to participate in all meetings and activities of the Organisation.

This also concerns Belarus’ participation in partial agreements of the Council of Europe, including the Venice Commission, but is without prejudice to the rights of Belarus as a contracting party to international conventions. The Committee also decided to cease all technical co-operation with Belarus. However, the Committee of Ministers decided to maintain and enhance relations with the Belarusian civil society and the opposition in exile. It will soon take further initiatives in this respect.

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