What changed

B100218/2025

on the immediate risk of further repression by Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus: threats from the investigative Committee

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Immediate risk of further repression by Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus: threats from the Investigative Committee

B100229/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the immediate risk of further repression by Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus: threats from the investigative Committee

(2025/2629(RSP))

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,

– having regard to RulesRule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas political opposition figures, activists and independent journalists face systematic harassment, imprisonment and intimidation in Belarus;

whereas, the EU does not recognize the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election of January 26, 2025, and deems the detention of political prisoners unacceptable; whereas Belarus’s complicity in the war in Ukraine further undermines its commitment to international peace and human rights;

whereas ahead of the January elections, the Belarusian Investigative Committee intensified action against opposition figures, opening criminal cases against 45 activists, 22 accused of conspiring to seize power and 23 of forming extremist groups, with penalties of up to 12 years in prison;

whereas the Lukashenka regime expands its repression beyond Belarus, targeting Belarusians abroad with surveillance, threats, and prosecutions; whereas official statements by the Investigative Committee of Belarus in January and March 2025 confirm escalating transnational repression, particularly against Freedom Day participants; whereas the regime monitors Belarusians abroad, identifying over 100 individuals linked to the Coordination Council as suspects; whereas since August 2020, the Investigative Committee labelled nearly 19,000 acts as “extremist-related crimes” while denying police violence in 2020, reflecting a systematic effort to silence dissent and dismantle opposition through intimidation and legal persecution;

whereas Committee statements in January and March 2025 suggest expanded surveillance and threats against Belarusians abroad, particularly those involved in protests or Freedom Day on 25 March

Strongly condemns the continued expansion of repression by the Lukashenka regime, which now targets Belarusians abroad with criminal prosecution, asset seizures, and other measures designed to silence dissent;

whereas the regime’s labeling of opposition as extremist or terrorist is widely condemned as misuse of law to stifle dissent; whereas UN experts note these practices purge civic space and suppress free expression in Belarus;

Denounces the deployment of judicial instruments as tools of repression by the Belarusian Investigative Committee, which seeks to criminalize peaceful participation in pro-democracy demonstrations and intimidate both the participants and their families through pervasive surveillance and legal threats;

whereas elections in Belarus have consistently failed to meet international standards of transparency, fairness and democratic legitimacy, as highlighted by independent observers and the OSCE;

Condemns the systematic violation of international human rights norms ­ including the rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and political participation ­ as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reinforced by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

whereas Aliaksandr Lukashenka has been in power continuously for over 30 years, an almost unique case in contemporary Europe;

Demands an immediate cessation of repression against Belarusians within Belarus and abroad, including politically motivated charges, asset seizures, and surveillance of exiles and demonstrators, and calls for the release of all political prisoners;

whereas Belarusian state media continues to dominate the information landscape, with outlets like BELTA providing government-aligned news and perspectives.

Stresses the need for the EU and its member states to maintain public scrutiny over Belarus’ imprisonment of individuals for politically motivated charges and the targeting of their relatives, by using all public channels at their disposal to increase the visibility and names of individuals imprisoned or detained for political reasons; calls to expand and enforce targeted sanctions against Belarusian officials responsible for transnational repression;

Condemns the continuing oppression of the Belarusian people by the Lukashenka regime, including widespread human rights violations and political repression;

Calls on the EU and its member states to strengthen legal protections and visa access for Belarusian exiles, pro-democracy activists, and those fleeing persecution; urges to ensure a coordinated EU response to support Belarusian citizens with expired passports who face the risk of human rights violations upon return;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, activists, journalists and trade unionists, including Volha Brytsikava and Aliaksandr Kapshul;

Calls on the EU and its member states to maintain and expand their financial, technical, and political support for independent civil society activists, journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders operating both within Belarus and in exile; urges to continue monitoring and documenting their trials;

Urges the EU Delegation and Member State embassies to monitor political trials and support prisoners' relative;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and the de facto Belarusian authorities.

Calls on the EU and the Member State to extend EU support to Belarusians living in exile who risk facing politically motivated charges by the Belarusian Investigative Committee, including by providing political, financial and legal assistance;

Condemns the regime's violation of the right to freedom of association; calls on all opposition forces to undertake to respect the ILO Conventions, in particular Conventions Nos 87 and 98, and Article 33 of the ILO Constitution;

Is deeply alarmed by the UN report detailing ill-treatment, including beatings, electric shocks and threats of rape in jail; reiterates its calls on the Belarusian authorities to respect detainees’ rights, provide medical care and grant access to lawyers, families, and international organisations;

Reiterates its call for the EU and its Member States to to ease visa access and support rehabilitation for those fleeing Belarus;

Reiterates its solidarity with the Belarusian people in their struggle for democracy, human rights and the rule of law;

Is alarmed by the abuse of counter terrorist legislation as a means of intimidation and threats in many regimes throughout the globe;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, Member States and the and the Belarusian authorities.