Сергей Рачков. Скриншот видео
The chairman of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives on International Affairs Siarhei Rachkou will take part in the 23rd Autumn Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul on 17–19 November, the press service of the lower house of the National Assembly of Belarus reported.
Rachkou also serves as the head of the National Assembly’s delegation to the OSCE PA.
“The Standing Committee meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and a parliamentary conference on the topic ‘OSCE — 50 Years: Revitalizing Multilateralism Through Dialogue and Cooperation’ will be held. The event will focus on issues such as strengthening political dialogue and trust, global trade, interconnectivity and sustainable growth, respect for human rights, and support for family values,” the statement said.
Rachkou plans to speak at the thematic sessions of the parliamentary conference and hold a series of meetings with parliamentarians from OSCE participating states.
The Belarusian House of Representatives is not recognized by most Western countries. During the latest “elections” to the chamber in early 2024, the authorities in Minsk refused to invite OSCE observers, although they were obliged to do so under their international commitments.
“The elections took place in an atmosphere of fear, in which no electoral process can be considered democratic,” the U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement released on 25 February 2024.