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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2900(RSP))

On the situation in Belarus, five years after the fraudulent presidential elections

B-10-2025-0452

on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: Helmut Brandstätter, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, JanChristoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, MarieAgnes StrackZimmermann, Eugen Tomac, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas

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This resolution condemns repression in Belarus and demands the release of political prisoners, while supporting democratic forces and civil society. It calls for sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses, sanctions evasion, and complicity in Russia's war, and for investigations into spy networks. It urges the EU to support exiled Belarusians, protect them from persecution, and ensure legal residence and employment. It also calls for the abolition of the death penalty and for new free elections under OSCE supervision.

Key points

  1. Condemns repression and demands immediate release of all political prisoners, with compensation and restoration of rights.
  2. Calls for respect of detainees' rights, including medical care and access to lawyers and families.
  3. Urges EU and member states to investigate human rights abuses and support accountability, including via the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice.
  4. Calls for support to political prisoners and their families, including visa simplification and rehabilitation.
  5. Stresses protection of exiled Belarusians and their access to legal residence and employment in the EU.
  6. Warns against using prisoners as bargaining chips and encourages continued efforts for their release.
  7. Does not recognize Lukashenka as legitimate president and supports democratic forces led by Tsikhanouskaya.
  8. Calls for investigations into Belarusian and Russian spy networks and restrictions on diplomats in the Schengen area.
  9. Any normalisation of EU-Belarus relations is conditional on release of prisoners, end of repression, and free elections under OSCE supervision.
  10. Denounces Belarus's complicity in Russia's war and militarisation, and calls for strengthening Belarusian identity and language.
  11. Urges stronger sanctions on those responsible for repression, sanctions evasion, and forced labour, and on intermediaries evading fertiliser sanctions.
  12. Urges commutation of death sentences and a moratorium on capital punishment.

Who is affected

  • Political prisoners in Belarus, including named individuals, who are to be released and supported.
  • Belarusian democratic forces and civil society, who receive EU support and solidarity.
  • Exiled Belarusians, who are to be protected and granted legal residence and employment in the EU.
  • EU and member states, called on to impose sanctions and investigate spy networks.
  • Belarusian authorities, who are urged to release prisoners and abolish the death penalty.

Figures and deadlines

  • over 8 900 individuals have faced politically motivated charges since 2020
  • over 1 200 political prisoners remaining in detention
  • 96 cases of political repression were recorded in September 2025
  • 33 media representatives are currently imprisoned
  • more than 6 000 teachers have lost their jobs
  • more than 5 800 people on the 'list of extremists'
  • more than 500 000 Belarusians have been forced to flee since 2020
  • EUR 170 million mobilised by the EU since 2020