Фото: t.me/rada_vision
A delegation from the Coordination Council met with Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and Belinda Gottardi, the Congress’s rapporteur on democratic Belarus.
The participants discussed political repression in Belarus, transnational repression against Belarusians abroad, the situation of political prisoners and the need to support Belarusians living in exile.
Particular attention was paid to problems with documents. It was noted that Belarusians abroad face additional difficulties because they cannot obtain or renew passports through Belarusian embassies and consulates or obtain the necessary certificates and official documents. The delegation stressed the need to minimise the impact of repression by the Aliaksandr Lukashenka regime in Council of Europe member states.
The Congress is currently preparing a report entitled “The Role of Local and Regional Authorities in Supporting Belarusian Democratic Forces and Civil Society in Exile.” The report is being drafted by the Congress rapporteur in cooperation with the Coordination Council delegation. The document is scheduled for adoption at the Congress session in March 2027.
The sides discussed the possibility of including in the report issues related to implementing the Luxembourg agreements at the local level in Council of Europe member states, as well as access to local social support programmes for former political prisoners and other Belarusians subjected to repression. It was noted that these issues are also being raised at bilateral meetings with national delegations.
The participants stressed the importance of solidarity at the local and regional levels, exchanging successful practices for supporting Belarusians in host countries and sharing this experience more widely.
The delegation also thanked the Congress for organising the “Leaders of Change” seminar and webinars for Belarusians interested in working in local government in a future democratic Belarus. The sides also discussed arranging study visits to local administrations in Council of Europe member states.
Another topic was expanding the participation of Belarusian representatives in the Congress’s activities. In particular, the sides considered the possibility of including members of the delegation in future election observation missions for local and regional elections.
The meeting also addressed continued cooperation between Belarusian experts and Congress experts to develop a roadmap for a future democratic Belarus to join the European Charter of Local Self-Government.