The Coordination Council of Belarus held an open plenary session on 28 July, during which candidates for the leadership of the International Commission and the Commission on Reforms debated their programmes, while a draft proposal for an Ethics Commission was also presented.
Three candidates are standing for chair of the International Commission. Ksenia Lutskina proposed focusing on cooperation with national parliaments through the “For a Democratic Belarus” groups to address practical issues facing Belarusians abroad, including legalisation of residence, social support and assistance for former political prisoners.
Aliaksandra Mamayeva called for strengthening the Coordination Council’s international standing, promoting the “Luxembourg solutions”, securing recognition of the New Belarus passport and expanding work within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Marharyta Vorykhava proposed a model of systematic coordination of international activities between the Coordination Council, the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the United Transitional Cabinet, with regular public reporting.
Standing for chair of the Commission on Reforms and Preparation for the Transition are Yury Hubarevich and Raman Kislyak. Hubarevich presented a programme focused on drafting legislation, conducting international assessments of reforms for compliance with EU standards and developing the Human Resources Reserve programme. Kislyak proposed broadening public discussion of reforms and adopting individual documents now, including in the field of human rights, to regulate the work of the democratic institutions themselves.
Candidates for deputy chair of the commission are Alisa Ryzhychenka, who emphasised the knowledge economy and the use of artificial intelligence, and Aliaksandr Rakitski, whose priorities include legal expertise and reform of the security sector.
In addition, Ales Mikhalevich presented the membership of the Ethics Commission, which will oversee compliance with the Council’s code of ethics and work to reduce the use of hate speech within the Coordination Council. Its members are Ales Mikhalevich (chair), Aliaksandra Doinich (deputy chair), Mikhail Rubin, Siarhei Stalmakou, Dzmitry Shchyhelski, Ales Yurkoits, Mikalai Kazlou and Ksenia Lutskina.
Following the meeting, the secretariat was instructed to submit all of the proposed regulations and nominations for a general vote in the near future.
