Last Member of OSCE Mission in Belarus to Leave

The last member of the OSCE's mission in Belarus, Alina Josan, will leave the country on October 29, according to Pavel Latushko, the Belarussian Interior Ministry's press secretary.

Latushko said that Belarus has always supported cooperation with the OSCE and has never placed any doubt over the mission's presence in the country. 'However, we do not believe that the OSCE misson can continue to be present in Belarus in its current form,' he stated. The Belarussian Interior Ministry believes that 'serious negotiations need to be started over the form and mandate of any future OSCE mission in Belarus.'