What changed

B100327/2026

B100324/2026

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

(2026/2766(RSP))

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,

– 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;

whereas Aliaksandra Pulinovich is an activist, sentenced to 10 years and 3 months of prison on politically motivated charges of “buildings desecration and property damaging,” “illegal actions in relation to firearms, ammunition and explosives,” and “attempting an act of terrorism”;

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

whereas at the time of her detention in January 2024, Pulinovich was 16 years old; whereas during pre-trial detention, Pulinovich was allegedly subjected to ill-treatment during interrogation and was held in prolonged solitary confinement in inhumane conditions;

whereas political prisoners are subjected to incommunicado detention, prolonged solitary confinement, psychological pressure, denial of legal safeguards and medical care; whereas these conditions have led to deaths; whereas every such individual case shall and will be thoroughly investigated;

whereas Pulinovich faced various trial violations, including prolonged pretrial detention imposed on a minor, denial of adequate access to legal defence and parental support, public portrayal of the accused as guilty on State television prior to conviction, and closed-door court hearings;

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

whereas politically motivated prosecutions continue in Belarus, with over 850 political prisoners currently behind bars; whereas political prisoners are routinely denied access to appropriate health care, with many facing higher health risks due to poor prison conditions;

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;

Whereas the UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus has reported that situation of political prisoners in Belarus may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and in some cases could constitute torture;

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;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Aliaksandra Pulinovich and all other political prisoners in Belarus; urges the Belarusian authorities to respect the human rights of detainees, supply information about their situation, provide necessary medical treatment and allow access for lawyers and family members; calls on the EU Delegation in Minsk to follow cases of political prisoners as closely as possible;

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;

Calls on Member States to ensure documentation efforts for crimes committed by the Lukashenka regime are continued at UN level, including by maintaining the mandates of the UN Group of Independent Experts and UNSR on human rights in Belarus; echoes the OHCHR recommendation to further accountability through national proceedings based on accepted principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction;

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;

Calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess a unified EU framework for compensating victims of politically motivated property confiscation by the Belarusian regime, including through legally available regime-linked assets and special duties on trade with Lukashenka’s regime;

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

Reiterates its call on the Commission and Member States to simplify the procedures for obtaining visas and residence permits for those fleeing Belarus for political reasons, as well as to prepare procedures for cases of statelessness of Belarusians residing in the EU whose identity documents have been invalidated or are expired;

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

Urges the Commission to further expand targeted sanctions against those individuals responsible for human rights abuses and the erosion of democracy and rule of law in Belarus, as well as ensure strict implementation;

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;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, OHCHR, the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces, and the authorities of Belarus.

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;

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;

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

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, Member States, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe;