Belarus’ participation in GRECO demonstrates willingness to improve the situation,Pavel Sapelka says

An additional protocol to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption in Strasbourg has been signed recently between Belarus and the Council of Europe.

Belarus has signed an additional protocol to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption in Strasbourg, which will provide an opportunity of receiving experts’ support in the frames of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), Belsat has learnt.

‘It is a good sign that Belarus is being drawn in Europe’s organisations. Our participating demonstrates willingness to improve the situation while European organisations gain the opportunity of monitoring and affecting it. It is like Interpol: its membership has definite advantages. But there should not be any abuse; and the GRECO membership should go beyond mere travelling abroad,’ human rights defender Pavel Sapelka said.

Belarus was also invited to accede to the Convention on European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The Group of States against Corruption, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption monitoring body with its Headquarters in Strasbourg (France), was established in 1999. Since August 2010, all Council of Europe members have been members of GRECO. Belarus joined the Group in 2012. GRECO’s objective is to improve the capacity of its members to fight corruption by monitoring their compliance with Council of Europe anti-corruption standards through a dynamic process of mutual evaluation and peer pressure.