A recent decree issued by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko marks a formal rejection of certain international arrangements aimed at combating corruption. The official document appeared on Belarus’ legal information portal, signaling a deliberate policy shift within the state’s approach to international anti-corruption frameworks and their implementation on the national stage. The move underscores the government’s intention to reassess external commitments that influence how corruption-related matters are addressed domestically, including the obligations and privileges that accompany participation in broad multilateral efforts.
The decree explicitly addresses the Civil and Criminal Liability Conventions against Corruption, established in 1999, and indicates a consequential withdrawal from or renegotiation of elements of those agreements as they apply to Belarus. In parallel, the measure terminates the arrangement between Belarus and the Council of Europe concerning the privileges granted to representatives of the GRECO—an international body charged with evaluating and promoting government efforts to combat corruption in member states. This termination effectively alters the framework through which Belarus interacts with international observers, staff, and expert groups that have historically contributed to formal anti-corruption monitoring and technical assistance programs, and it raises questions about how the country will manage the policy and practical implications of such a change within its borders.
In Minsk on Monday, January 8, the government faced international scrutiny following a decision to deny invites to OSCE observers slated for monitoring parliamentary elections. The denial was communicated to the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, with the message relayed by the country’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna. The official, noting that a response had been transmitted to the ODIHR leadership, highlighted a shift in how international monitoring roles will be integrated into the electoral process and what this means for the transparency and legitimacy of the elections in the eyes of regional and global observers.
Earlier events in Belarus have been marked by a tightening of process and timing around presidential election preparations. The government appears to be recalibrating the cadence of electoral campaigning, voter outreach, and the deployment of monitoring resources, which in turn shapes the international community’s expectations regarding openness, fairness, and civic participation. This recalibration, set against a broader geopolitical backdrop, signals efforts to balance national sovereignty with the standards frequently associated with democratic practices and international evaluative mechanisms.
In prior public statements, Lukashenko has characterized some regional and international positions as misaligned with the country’s perceived interests and domestic priorities. Assertions that certain groups or nationalities are not aligning with the nation’s aims have been framed as part of a broader narrative aimed at defending national autonomy in policy choices, security considerations, and the management of public trust. The ongoing discourse around these themes reflects a broader debate about how Belarus engages with external bodies while pursuing its own political and economic objectives within a complex regional landscape.