MINSK - Belarus has ordered the closure of the Minsk OSCE, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Belarus has decided not to continue the operations of the OSCE office in Minsk," he said without another spokesman Andrei Savinykh.The announcement follows criticism by the OSCE came after the presidential elections of Dec. 19. Observers said that the organization had the vote was not free and that the police had cracked down on opponents. The elections saw the reappointment of the incumbent President Alexander Lukash.
Immediately after the announcement of first results, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the capital Minsk to denounce irregularities and fraud. They were followed by violent clashes with police and hundreds of arrests. They were also jailed several candidates who participated in the presidential race.
Five of them will be tried on charges of being the organizers of the protest. Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders denounces searches in offices and homes of independent journalists by the KGB, the secret SERVING Belarusian Soviet style. The NGO condemns the systematic raids that seem aimed at acquiring information about the election coverage.
No comments:
Post a Comment