What changed

B90126/2024

B90129

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the 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 its numerous previous resolutions on Belarus since August 2020, in particular its resolution of 14 December 2023 on the unknown status of Mikalai Statkevich and the recent attacks on Belarusian politicians’ and activists’ family members,

having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the statement by the High Representative/Vice-President of 25 January 2024 on the latest wave of police searches and political detentions,

whereas the Lukashenka regime continues to perpetrate widespread and systematic politically motivated repression against the people of Belarus;

– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure.

whereas in January 2024State Security Committee (KGB) officers conducted raids, interrogations and detentions targeting family members of political prisoners and former political prisoners on “extremism”-related charges, including some who had received assistance via the “INeedHelpBY” initiative; whereas the majority of the 200 detained are mothers and wives of political prisoners, including Marina Adamovich, wife of 2020 Sakharov Prize recipient Mikalai Statkevich;

whereas the Lukashenka regime launched a new wave of repression against former political prisoners remaining in Belarus as well as against relatives of political prisoners;

whereas on 24 January, the Investigative Committee initiated a “special procedure” against 20 political analysts, journalists and sociologists dubbed “Tsikhanouskaya’s analysts” facing confiscation of property and the citizenship revocation if convicted;

whereas more than 200 people were affected by raids, searches at the houses of political prisoners and arrests, among them a majority of women, wives and mothers of political prisoners including Maryna Adamovich, wife of political prisoner, former presidential candidate and 2020 Sakharov Prize laureate Mikalai Statkevich;

Whereas in Belarus, political prisoners face egregious mistreatment, including torture and forced labour;

whereas repression against detained leaders of political parties such as Mikalai Statkevich leader of Belarusian Social Democratic Party Narodnaya Hramada, and others continues, including party members;

whereas the regime continues to expand the list of “extremist” organizations and materials;

whereas this wave of repression is the latest escalation in the incessant repression by the Lukashenka regime against pro-democratic forces, political activists, civil society, independent media, trade unions and any voice of dissent since the stolen presidential election of 9 August 2020;

whereas the latest crackdown precedes the parliamentary and local elections on 25 February; whereas the Lukashenka regime succeeded in liquidating and preventing democratic parties from participating in the elections;

1. Urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the arrested women and other family members of current and former political prisoners and to cease any gender-based repression;

1.2. CondemnsUrges the recentBelarusian waveauthorities ofto persecutionimmediately inend Belarus,the especiallyrepression targetingagainst women,the people of Belarus, to immediately and urgesunconditionally therelease Belarusianthe demore factothan authorities1.500 topolitical immediatelyprisoners ceaseand all repression,persons persecutionarbitrarily detained, and arbitraryto detentioncomply with Belarus’ international obligations, in particular regarding the respect of peacefulhuman citizens;rights;

2. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, whose number currently exceeds 1400, and their detained family members and restoration of their full rights, dropping of all charges against the so-called “Tsikhanouskaya’s analysts”, and reminds the Belarusian regime of its international obligations;

3. Calls on the EU and its Member States to support the political prisoners of Belarus and their families by seizing every opportunity, to request their immediate release, by summoning the regime’s ambassadors to ask for proof of their condition and location and by granting humanitarian visas, rehabilitation and practical support through a dedicated fund, and to increase pressure on the regime through new and stronger sanctions and mirroring sanctions against Russia;

3. Reiterates its4. positionCalls on the lack ofauthorities transparency,to freedomstop andrepression fairnessahead of the forthcoming parliamentary“elections” andin localFebruary elections2024, into Belarusensure andfull callsrespect onof thefreedom EU,of itsassociation Memberand States,expression, and theto internationalallow communityall notcandidates to recognisecompete thein results;free and fair democratic elections under international observation;

4. Calls on the HR/VP and the Council to respond by imposing additional sanctions on the regime and those responsible for serious human rights violations, including high-level officials and security forces, to further reduce diplomatic presence of Belarus in the EU, and to continue to support regime victims;

5. Reiterates its solidarity with the people of Belarus whose legitimate aspirations for respect of their democratic rights, fundamental freedoms and human rights deserve to be supported as actively as possible;

5. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue to enable the documentation of human rights violations in Belarus, to support the transformation of the OHCHR examination of the human rights situation in Belarus into a fully independent investigative mechanism, to uphold the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus and to support the investigation of universal jurisdiction cases;

6. 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 OSCE and to the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and the de facto authorities of the Republic of Belarus.

6. Reiterates its solidarity with the people of Belarus and its support for their legitimate aspirations for a democratic and European future and remains committed to work tirelessly with representatives of democratic forces, civil society and independent media in benefit of the people of Belarus;

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