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

B90110

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 Rule 144 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;

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

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”;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, OHCHR, the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and the authorities of Belarus.