What changed

B90129

P9_TA(2024)0070

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

(2024/2550(RSP))

PE756.852

European Parliament resolution of 8 February 2024 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 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 its previous resolutions on Belarus,

– 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,

– having regard to Rule 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

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

A. whereas in January 2024, the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) carried out raids, interrogations and detentions targeting over 200 family members of current and former political prisoners as well as beneficiaries of the ‘INeedHelpBY’ initiative on ‘extremism’-related charges; whereas the majority are mothers and wives of political prisoners, including Marina Adamovich, wife of Mikalai Statkevich, Tatsiana Seviarynets, mother of Pavel Seviarynets, and earlier-arrested Daria Losik, wife of Ihar Losik;

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;

B. whereas additional charges were brought in absentia against 20 political analysts, journalists and sociologists dubbed ‘Tsikhanouskaya’s analysts’, who face confiscation of property and revocation of citizenship 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;

C. whereas political prisoners, including party leaders Mikalai Kazlou, Ryhor Kastusiou, Mikalai Statkevich and Pavel Seviarynets, face isolation, torture, denial of medical care 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;

D. whereas the latest crackdown precedes the parliamentary and local ‘elections’ on 25 February 2024; whereas the 2023 ‘law on political parties’ is preventing democratic opposition parties from participating in the elections;

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;

1. Strongly condemns the recent wave of mass arrests in Belarus and urges the illegitimate Lukashenka regime to cease repression, especially any gender-based persecution, and reminds the regime of its international obligations;

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;

2. Calls for the immediate unconditional release and compensation of all more than 1 400 political prisoners, as well as their families and arbitrarily detained persons, while restoring their full rights;

2. Urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately end the repression against the people of Belarus, to immediately and unconditionally release the more than 1.500 political prisoners and all persons arbitrarily detained, and to comply with Belarus’ international obligations, in particular regarding the respect of human rights;

3. Reiterates its position on the lack of transparency, freedom and fairness ahead of the parliamentary and local ‘elections’ in Belarus and calls for the EU, its Member States, and the international community not to recognise the results;

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;

4. Calls on the VP/HR and the Council to respond by imposing stronger sanctions on the Lukashenka regime, including against goods involving political prisoners’ forced labour, stricter financial sanctions, and sanctions on individuals responsible for serious human-rights violations, including high-level officials and members of the security forces; calls for a further reduction of the diplomatic presence of Belarus in the EU, continued support for regime victims through special instruments allowing them to obtain EU visas and residence permits and addressing cases of statelessness;

4. Calls on the authorities to stop repression ahead of the “elections” in February 2024, to ensure full respect of freedom of association and expression, and to allow all candidates to compete in free and fair democratic elections under international observation;

5. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to further support the documentation of human rights violations in Belarus, to back turning 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 further accountability through extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction;

5.6. Reiterates its solidarity with the people of Belarus whoseand its support for their legitimate aspirations for respecta ofdemocratic theirand European future and remains committed to working tirelessly with democratic rights,forces, fundamentalcivil freedomssociety and human rightsindependent deservemedia to be supportedbenefit asthe activelypeople asof possible;Belarus;

6.7. 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 theVP/HR, Member States, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and to the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces andforces, the de facto authoritiesBelarusian ofauthorities, the RepublicUN ofand Belarus.the OSCE.