What changed

B100326/2026

B100327/2026

European Parliament resolution on Deterioratingthe deteriorating situation of political prisoners in Belarus, in particular the case of Aliaksandra Pulinovich

(2026/2766(RSP))

– having regard to itsRule previous150 resolutionsof onits Belarus,Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure;

whereas the Lukashenka regime continues its systematic repression of political opponents, independent journalists, human rights defenders, national minorities, and civil society;

A. whereas the Lukashenka regime continues its systematic repression against political opponents, human rights defenders, and citizens exercising their fundamental freedoms; whereas 868 political prisoners remain arbitrarily detained under inhumane conditions;

whereas at least 868 political prisoners remain in detention, many of whom endure lengthy prison sentences, like Dzianis Ivashyn, Pavel Belavus and Ihar Alinevich;

B. whereas political prisoners are routinely subjected all formsto ofincommunicado ill-treatment,detention, prolonged incommunicadosolitary detention,confinement, psychological pressure, denial of legal safeguards and medical care,care; forcedwhereas labourthese andconditions severehave restrictionsled onto contactdeaths; withwhereas lawyersevery such individual case shall and familywill members;be thoroughly investigated;

C. whereas Aliaksandra Pulinovich was arrested in January 2024 while still a minor in connection with the so-called "Black Nightingales" case, prosecuted in closed proceedings on politically motivated charges, sentenced to 10 years and three months' imprisonment, subsequently included on its so-called list of terrorists;

whereas UN experts have warned that such practices may amount to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment;

D. whereas the case of Aliaksandra Pulinovich illustrates the Belarusian authorities' increasing use of so-called anti-terrorism legislation to criminalise young people for politically motivated reasons, in violation of fair trial guarantees and the rights of the child;

whereas Article 411 of the Criminal Code of Belarus is abused as a mechanism to extend prison sentences through fabricated disciplinary violations and has been used against political prisoners, creating a system of indefinite detention and coercion; whereas political prisoners held under Article 411 include Volha Mayorava, Alena Lazarchyk, Aliaksandr Frantskevich, Viktar Snehur and Eduard Babaryka;

E. whereas, on 19 May 2026, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced nuclear exercises in Belarus; whereas, in recent times, there has been an increased risk of involvement of Belarusian armed forces in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

whereas Aliaksandra Pulinovich was arrested at the age of 16 in connection with the so-called ‘Black Nightingales’ case involving graffiti opposing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas she was subsequently sentenced to over 10 years in a penal colony;

1. Strongly condemns the continuing, systematic and widespread repression by the Lukashenka regime against the people of Belarus and reiterates its unwavering solidarity with all political prisoners and their families;

whereas during her interrogation Aliaksandra was subjected to ill-treatment and held in prolonged solitary confinement in inhumane conditions; whereas numerous fair trial violations were reported, including denial of adequate access to legal defence and parental support;

2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Aliaksandra Pulinovich, together with their full rehabilitation and restoration of their rights;

whereas elderly and disabled political prisoners, including Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Hundar, Iryna Melkher and members of Rezanovich and Karsakou families, are subjected to inhuman detention conditions; whereas cases of Stsiapan Latypau and Viachaslau Areshka demonstrate devastating consequences of prison conditions;

3. Appreciates the efforts undertaken by the U.S. to secure the release of political prisoners in Belarus; however notes with concern, that the Lukashenka regime continues to instrumentalise such releases in pursuit of its political and economic objectives, while simultaneously carrying out further politically motivated arrests and imprisonments;

whereas repression extends beyond Belarus through transnational measures; whereas political prisoners and their families are subjected to collective punishment, including threats of criminal prosecution;

4. Strongly condemns the politically motivated prosecution and imprisonment of minors and the misuse of anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation to suppress peaceful dissent; calls for the immediate abolition of the lists of terrorists and extremists;

whereas according to art. 12 of the ICCPR, no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter their own country;

5. Urges the EU, its Member States and international partners to intensify efforts to secure the release of all political prisoners and support for Belarusian democratic forces;

Demands the immediate and unconditional release of Aliaksandra Pulinovich and all political prisoners and arbitrarily detained persons, restoring their full rights and granting appropriate compensation; calls for the immediate abolition of Article 411 of the Criminal Code of Belarus;

6. Reiterates its call for the Council to broaden targeted restrictive measures against all individuals and entities responsible for repression, torture, politically motivated prosecutions and transnational persecution, to ensure effective enforcement of existing sanctions;

Strongly condemns the ongoing systematic repression under Lukashenka’s regime, including widespread violations of fundamental rights and freedoms; condemns all forms of collective and transnational repression;

7. Calls on the EU and its Member States to support accountability through international mechanisms, including Lithuania’s ICC referral and investigations under universal jurisdiction;

Condemns the regime’s practice of selectively releasing political prisoners while continuing to detain their relatives and associates, using family members as de facto hostages and an intimidation tool; stresses that the release of individual political prisoners cannot obscure the continued repression of their families;

8. Regrets attempts to normalise relations with the Lukashenko regime; reiterates support for sanctions and calls on the Commission to propose restrictive measures; refuses any legitimisation through relations with the regime until not all political prisoners are released and rehabilitated and profound legal reforms implemented;

Calls for the EU and its Member States to strengthen sanctions against the individuals and entities responsible for repressions in Belarus;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the UN High CommissionerMember forStates, Humanthe RightsOSCE, and the de facto authoritiesCouncil of Belarus.Europe;