What changed

B100221/2025

B100227/2025

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

(2025/2629(RSP))

–- having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,

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

A. whereas ever since peaceful protests broke out against the massively falsified presidential election of 9 August 2020, the Lukashenka regime, with Russian support, has been continuing its severe repression against the Belarusian people, with many citizens being harassed, arrested, tortured and convicted for expressing opposition to the regime or for protesting against the falsification of the election or the systematic human rights violations;

A. whereas Belarusians celebrate the Freedom Day on 25 March to commemorate the independence declaration by the democratic Belarusian People’s Republic of 1918;

B. whereas, since 2020, tens of thousands of people have been arbitrarily detained and, as of March 2025, there remain 1 200 political prisoners in Belarus, many of whom suffer under life-threatening conditions; whereas the actual number of political prisoners might be substantially higher;

B. whereas the Lukashenka regime has been escalating its repression beyond Belarusian borders to dismantle alternative democratic political structures;

C. whereas recent statements by the Investigative Committee of Belarus point to increased repression, in particular through broadened surveillance and threats against Belarusian citizens abroad;

C. whereas Belarus’ Investigative Committee announced to monitor citizens’ participation in actions abroad, to prosecute all participants, including residents abroad and their conviction in absentia;

D. whereas the recent suspension of the right to asylum by the Polish government might negatively affect Belarusians fleeing persecution;

D. whereas Belarusian diaspora’s families were threatened with imprisonment and asset confiscation if participating in Freedom Day protests;

1. Calls for an immediate end to the repression of the people of Belarus and reiterates its firm solidarity with all those who continue to fight the Lukashenka regime’s massive and systematic repression in Belarus and against Belarusian citizens abroad;

E. whereas hundreds participants in Freedom Day rallies have been identified as suspects by the Investigative Committee of Belarus;

2. Urges to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners;

F. whereas Lukashenka’s regime is taking advantage of many Belarusian passports expiring, forcing the diaspora to return to Belarus, facing possible imprisonment; whereas 2023, EU Member States issued around 300 000 first residence permits to Belarusians;

3. Reiterates its concern about the situation regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus, including the unabated systematic repression, the continued crackdown on the democratic opposition, civil society, independent media, trade unions, religious organisations and political parties, persistent impunity, and the structural lack of respect for due process and fair trials;

G. whereas Belarusian civil society and free media are severely affected by cuts in the U.S. budget;

4. Expresses concern about intensified persecution committed in exile, such as the abuse of Interpol arrest warrants by the Lukashenka regime to bring about the extradition of political opponents from non-EU countries as well as the intensified surveillance of and threats against Belarusian citizens abroad;

1. Calls for the EU, its Member States and the international community to apply immediate protective measures for Belarusian citizens in EU Member States and abroad facing criminal persecution by Lukashenka’s regime, including enhanced asylum procedures, security cooperation, and legal protection against extraterritorial persecution.

5. Calls on the countries concerned not to extradite Belarusian citizens who have fled the Lukashenka regime and may face persecution on their return to Belarus; calls for the EU and its Member States to raise the abuse of international arrest warrants with Interpol;

2. Encourages EU Member States to extend for those Belarusian citizens whose passports are expiring the right for a legal stay by providing alternative travel documents.

6. Notes the increased targeting of individuals linked to the representative structures established by the democratic forces of Belarus in exile; urges the Commission and the Member States to continue assisting Belarusian democratic forces, civil society and independent media and encourages the representatives of the democratic forces to maintain and promote unity, based on the objective of a free, democratic and independent Belarus, among all Belarusian democratic forces and civil society;

3. Regrets that Belarus Freedom Day was used by the regime to “inaugurate” Lukashenka, and reiterates its non-recognition of Lukashenka.

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and the de facto authorities of the Republic of Belarus.

4. Urges EU Member States not to comply with Interpol arrest warrants requesting extradition of Lukashenka's political opponents to Belarus.

5. Welcomes the Council’s sanctions on stakeholders undermining democracy and rule of law, contributing to repression and to military cooperation with Russia, such as the Central Election Commission, which issued politically motivated judgments and the President Property Management Directorate of the Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions; warns that Belarus functions as transit hub for Russia to circumvent existing sanctions; calls for stronger investigations of sanction evasion.

6. Urges the Member States to impose further sanctions equally to those imposed on Russia, particularly on the Belarusian banking system.

7. Regrets the recent U.S. negotiations with Lukashenka, which risk legitimizing his regime.

8. Urges the EU and its member states to increase financial support for independent media, human rights organizations, civil society initiatives, and institutions of Belarusian democratic forces.

9. Calls on the HRVP to use INTCEN and EDMO to counteract Belarusian intelligence operations and disinformation.

10. Emphasizes the Belarusian democratic actors’ role and unwavering support for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus as part of a peaceful Europe.

11. Calls on Lukashenka’s regime for the immediate release of all political prisoners and their rehabilitation.

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the HR/VP, the Council, the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and the Belarusian de facto authorities.