What changed

B90110

B90115/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Thethe new wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members

(2024/2550(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,

- having regard to human rights treaties to which Belarus is a party,

–- having regard to RuleRules 144144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas in January 2024, the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) officers carried out raids, interrogations and detentions targeting over 200 family members of political prisoners and former political prisoners on trumped up “extremism” related charges;

A. whereas Maryna Adamovich, the wife of the Belarusian opposition leader and political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich was arrested by the Lukashenka regime on 23 January 2024;

whereas, notably, Maryna Adamovich, spouse of jailed activist Mikalai Statkevich, was placed in so-called administrative detention for 15 days for “petty hooliganism”;

B. whereas, according to the media and human rights defenders reports, large-scale raids, interrogations and searches of the homes of political prisoners by the regime's security apparatus led to the arrests of over 200 people;

whereas many other detentions are reportedly connected to the INeedHelpBY project, an initiative providing food to those financially impacted by politically-motivated repression, which has been outlawed by the authorities as “extremist”;

C. whereas additional charges are brought against 20 well-known Belarusian political scientists, journalists and experts, the so-called ‘Tsikhanouskaya's analysts,’ who are charged in absentia and, if convicted, may even lose their Belarusian citizenship;

whereas on 25 January the Belarusian authorities launched a criminal investigation into a group of twenty analysts, journalists and commentators now outside the country, accusing them of “conspiring to seize power and promote extremism”, as well as providing support and expertise to the office of Svialtana Tsikhanouskaya;

D. whereas the illegitimate Lukashenka regime continues to repress the people of Belarus and persecutes civil society representatives, human rights defenders, journalists, democratic opposition parties’ leaders, including the imprisoned United Civic Party leader Mikalai Kazlou, who faces threats of a new criminal case to be opened against him and activists and many other people for political reasons; whereas widespread criminal prosecution remains one of the most serious forms of repression;

whereas this most recent wave of repression by the Lukashenka regime against its critics and potential political opponents are taking place just weeks ahead of the parliamentary “elections” on 25 February;

E. whereas in Belarus representatives of democratic forces are still illegally detained and held in inhumane conditions; whereas political prisoners experience torture, isolation, are denied medical care, contact with family and a number have died in prison;

Condemns the recent wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members as the Lukashenko regime continues the grand scale political persecution of its own population and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners;

F. whereas the Lukashenka regime has repeatedly committed violations of human rights against Belarusian people, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association; whereas repression continues to affect all sections of society, from academia to the media to human rights defenders;

Continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Belarus; reiterates its non-recognition of the election of Aleksandr Lukashenka as president of Belarus, and denounces the continuing repression of democratic forces, free media and civil society through politically motivated show trials;

Demands the immediate and unconditional release of Maryna Adamovich, Mikalai Statkevich, Mikalai Kazlou and all political prisoners and their families; calls for the charges against them to be dropped, full rehabilitation and financial compensation for the damage suffered as a result of their imprisonment;

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 rules and procedures to deal with cases of statelessness, as well as to provide support for those Belarusians residing in the EU whose identity documents are about to expire and who have no means of renewing them without returning to Belarus;

Strongly condemns the unjustified, politically motivated sentences and continued repression of Belarusian democratic forces, civil society, human rights defenders, trade unionists, journalists, clergy, political activists and their family members; reiterates its call to ensure accountability and justice for the victims of grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity that are taking place in Belarus, under the principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction;

Calls on Member States to ensure that the documentation and accountability efforts for international crimes committed by the Lukashenka regime are continued at UN level with a reformed and strengthened OHCHR examination of the human rights situation in Belarus and by preserving the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus for continued scrutiny over ongoing human rights violations;

Stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus and continues to support their legitimate aspirations for a democratic and European future; remains committed to working tirelessly with representatives of democratic forces, civil society and independent media for the benefit of the Belarusian people;

Echoes the recommendation by OHCHR to further accountability through national proceedings based on accepted principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction and calls on Member States to ensure sufficient resources for the investigation of universal jurisdiction cases;

Calls on the entire EU and Western countries to react decisively by imposing new sanctions on the Lukashenka regime;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR,Council, the Council,Commission, the Commission,Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Councilauthorities of Europe, the OSCE,Republic OHCHR,of theBelarus, representativesthe ofHigh theCommissioner Belarusianfor democraticHuman forcesRights and the authoritiesSecretary-General of Belarus.the UN.