Norway is among the countries that have launched the OSCE, so-called Moscow mechanism, which paves the way for investigations into possible human rights violations in Belarus.
The group of 17 countries in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe activated the mechanism at a meeting in Vienna, Austria. In addition to Norway, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States are among the countries that supported the investigation, writes Reuters.
The OSCE has previously offered to mediate between the government and the opposition in Belarus, which has been rejected by the country’s authorities.
In a statement, the OSCE members stated that the Belarussian authorities had systematically followed those who wanted to enter into dialogue and would rather continue to crack down on the protests.
The last time the so-called Moscow mechanism was activated was in 2018 when possible human rights violations in Chechnya were investigated.
At least 7,000 protesters have been arrested in connection with the large demonstrations in Belarus after the controversial election on 9 August.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
Belarus leader have to understand that belarusians need freedom simple
I would have questioned this attempt by Europe to involve itself in the affairs of a key Russian buffer state, except the Russian Navy harassed Alaska fishermen last month in *our* treaty-agreed economic/fisheries half of the Bering Sea – arguably An Act of War – and the Russian government has given no assurances it won’t happen again.