Role of International Observation in Ensuring Security Discussed at Conference in Belarus

Minsk hosted the international research and practice conference “Ensuring National, Regional and International Security: Current Challenges and Solutions”, dedicated to the 85^th anniversary of the National Security Academy of Belarus.

The event brought together representatives of security agencies, public authorities, special services, and academic institutions from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalia Kochanova and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Igor Sergeenko addressed the participants.  

Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Dmitriy Kobitskiy sent a greeting, congratulating the Academy and emphasizing its role in training national security professionals. He expressed readiness to develop cooperation in the field of model law-making, based on legality and protection of human rights.

The report on “Objectivity of International Election Observation as a Factor in Ensuring International and National Security”, delivered by Deputy Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat –Director of the International Institute for Monitoring the Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of IPA CIS Member Nations (IPA CIS  IIMDD), Doctor of Law, Professor Ivan Mushket and Adviser to the IPA CIS Secretary General Sergey Karavaev, highlighted key differences between the CIS and the OSCE monitoring missions. It emphasized that observation based on the CIS Convention on Standards of Democratic Elections and the IPA CIS Declaration on the Principles of International Election Observation strengthens national sovereignty, builds public trust in institutions, and counters foreign interference. Election interference was identified as a threat to national security, while weak governance and low trust increase risks, necessitating stronger political resilience and electoral security.

A report was also presented by Secretary of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Defense and Security issues Alexander Borisov. The speaker outlined the IPA CIS model law-making efforts in the field of national security, with particular attention to combating terrorism, extremism, organized crime, and cyber threats. A total of 124 model acts have been adopted in this area. Special emphasis was placed on the Model Law on National Security, adopted in 2022, which defines key principles and objectives, regulates legal relations in the field, and ensures the protection of the individual, society, and the constitutional order, taking into account the national interests of the CIS Member States and current security challenges.