Long-term international observation mission of the International Committee started to monitor the situation with the fundamental human rights in Belarus. Decision on its establishment was adopted on December 27 by a coalition of nongovernmental organizations of the OSCE countries on the initiative of non-governmental organizations in Russia and Ukraine.
As stated by the initiators, «reports of gross and systematic violations of human rights, including freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of expression, as well as the right to a fair and impartial trial are being received from Belarus. It is not only about the civil activists’ rights, but also defenders’ rights, no one to stand for in case of their breach,» «Narodnaya Volia.»
The committee is composed of about 30 non-governmental human rights organizations and independent experts. Any Belarusian structure was not included in this committee in principle, since the mission will monitor both the activities of the authorities and the possible actions of radical groups in society.
