On the new wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members

B90103/2024

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 its Rule 144,

whereas according to the NGO Viasna, in the context of the elections of the scheduled parliamentary and municipal elections on February 25 2024, since the 23 of January 2024 a new wave of repression against ex-political prisoners and their family is occurring and more than 160 persons had been arrested, questioned or had their homes searched; whereas according to Viasna, there are currently more than 1500 political prisoners in Belarus; whereas allegations of severe restriction of rights of detainees ill-treatments and torture;

whereas following the presidential election in 2020 and the start of the war in Ukraine, the Belarusian authorities have prosecuted thousands of individuals; whereas the total ban of any opposition party in Belarus in consequence of the “law on political parties”, of February 2023

whereas according to UNHCR the crackdown on civil society organizations continues, with as many as 900 NGOs being dissolved and 492 organizations forced to shut down to avoid criminal prosecution and the situation in Belarus has forced at least an estimated 300,000 persons to leave the country since May 2020;

Expresses deep concern at reports of human rights defenders, opposition leaders, activists, trade unionists, artists and journalists continue to be subjected to arbitrary detention and prosecution, violence and intimidation; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and all persons arbitrarily detained, arrested or sentenced on politically motivated grounds, and for all charges against them to be dropped;

Condemns the new wave of repression in Belarus and denounces the fact that politically motivated trials are held behind closed doors and without due process, thereby breaching the country’s international obligations and commitments;

Urges the authorities to comply with international standards and law regarding notably fair justice, proper medical evaluation and assistance, and access to lawyers and family for the persons in jail;

Reminds the Belarusian authorities of their obligations to respect the human rights of all Belarusian citizens, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association;

Calls on the Belarusian authorities to reinstall and guarantee full democratic rights to Members and activists of political parties, trade unions and citizens movements and for enabling their participation in shaping the democratic life of the Belarus society;

Stresses that the documentation of grave abuses and accountability efforts for international crimes must be continued at the UN level with a reformed and strengthened OHCHR examination of the human rights situation in Belarus;

calls to renew and preserve the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus to ensure continued scrutiny over ongoing human rights violations;

Expresses concern at the negative impact of the EU’s sanctions for the social and economic reality of a majority of the Belarusian people;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the authorities of Belarus, the EU Member States, the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the EEAS and the UN.