What changed

B100328/2026

B100326/2026

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

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,

– having regard to human rights treatiesRule to150 whichof Belarusits isRules aof party,Procedure;

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

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, according to Human Rights Center Viasna, 869 political prisoners are currently held behind bars in Belarus, while dozens of new political prisoners continue to be added every month and are subjected to torture, inhuman and ill-treatment, prolonged isolation, denial of medical care, denial of legal assistance and restrictions on contact with their families; whereas human rights defenders, journalists and media workers remain particular targets of the regime;

B. whereas political prisoners are routinely subjected all forms of ill-treatment, prolonged incommunicado detention, denial of medical care, forced labour and severe restrictions on contact with lawyers and family members;

C. whereas Aliaksandra Pulinovich,Pulinovich was detainedarrested in January 2024, when she was2024 16while yearsstill old;a whereasminor shein wasconnection sentencedwith tothe 10so-called years"Black andNightingales" 3case, monthsprosecuted in prisonclosed proceedings on politically motivated charges of buildings desecration and propertycharges, damage,sentenced illegalto actions10 inyears relationand tothree firearms,months' ammunitionimprisonment, andsubsequently explosives,included andon attemptingits anso-called actlist of terrorism;terrorists;

whereas, during pre-trial detention, Aliaksandra Pulinovich was reportedly placed in a punishment cell several times; whereas she was later included on the regime’s so called “terrorist” and “extremist” lists;

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 prison authorities continue to deny political prisoners access to appropriate health care;

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 recent releases of political prisoners are welcome for those freed and their families, but do not indicate systemic change; whereas new arrests, prosecutions and convictions continue;

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;

2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of Aliaksandra Pulinovich, and all political prisoners held by the Lukashenka regime,prisoners, including human rights defenders, journalists, media workers, cultural figures,Aliaksandra lawyers,Pulinovich, students,together thosewith detainedtheir asfull minorsrehabilitation and those in urgent needrestoration of medicaltheir care;rights;

Strongly condemns the politically motivated prosecution and sentencing of Aliaksandra Pulinovich and denounces the use of severe criminal charges against minors and young people as a tool of intimidation, propaganda and repression;

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;

Condemns4. Strongly condemns the politically motivated prosecution and imprisonment of minors and the misuse of “extremism”anti-terrorism and “terrorism”anti-extremism legislation to criminalizesuppress peaceful expression,dissent; civiccalls engagement,for humanthe rightsimmediate work,abolition independentof journalism,the culturallists activity,of educationterrorists and solidarity with political prisoners;extremists;

Reiterates that partial and selective releases cannot be treated as genuine reform, cannot justify the normalization of relations with the Lukashenka regime and cannot replace the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners;

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;

Calls6. onReiterates its call for the Council to broaden,broaden strengthentargeted andrestrictive strictlymeasures enforceagainst targetedall sanctionsindividuals againstand judges,entities prosecutors,responsible investigators,for prisonrepression, officials,torture, securitypolitically officers,motivated propagandistsprosecutions and alltransnational personspersecution, responsibleto forensure politicallyeffective motivatedenforcement prosecutions;of existing sanctions;

Underlines the need for full7. accountabilityCalls foron the crimes committed by Aliaksandr LukashenkaEU and hisits regimeMember againstStates theto Belarusiansupport people;accountability callsthrough oninternational Membermechanisms, Statesincluding toLithuania’s applyICC thereferral principleand ofinvestigations under universal jurisdiction;

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

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;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the de facto authorities of Belarus.