The Head of the EuroNest PA Working Group, Guguli Maghradze met with the Belarusian Ambassador to Georgia, H.E. Mikheil Miatlikov to discuss the outcomes of the meeting of the Standing Working Group on Belarus Affairs within the framework of the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly held in Georgia in November.

The Ambassador of Belarus got cognizant with the issues covered at the meeting of the Group.

G. Maghradze briefed the Ambassador on the content and results of the discussion, which included members of the EuroNest MEPs, as well as representatives of international organizations who systematically cover and evaluate the ongoing processes in the EuroNest member states.

As noted, amid the Russian pressure on the Belarusian leader, European structures will not turn a blind eye to the violations of democracy in Belarus. Namely, the ODIHR provided a list of infringements that followed the November 17 PA elections in Belarus. These elections were deemed as a step backwards in terms of democracy since, instead of 2 opposition representatives in the previous legislature, there is not a single opposition representative in the current Belarusian Parliament.

Pursuant to the Ambassador, the current Parliament is composed of the members of the opposition party - Liberal Party.

Talks concerned the prevalent issue of the EuroNest PA agenda - “That is, Belarus is the only country in Europe where the death penalty is maintained. If the country takes to abolish the death penalty and at the first stage announces a moratorium on the death penalty, it will create a positive attitude towards the Belarussian political establishment”, - Guguli Maghradze stated.

She informed the Belarussian Ambassador that the representatives of the Belarussian opposition invited by the European Union had introduced their positions at the EuroNest sitting.

G. Mghradze also informed the guest of the decision of the Working Group on enhancement of the work of the Euronest PA with both the opposition and Belarussian officials.

It was decided at the meeting that the Belarussian Embassy in Georgia will regularly report to EuroNest and the Head of the Working Group on Belarussian Affairs in EuroNest, Guguli Maghradze.

The parties also discussed the issues of strengthening cultural and economic ties between Belarus and Georgia.