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New wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members

TA-9-2024-0070 · P9_TA(2024)0070 · PE756.852

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 Sept 2026

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Parliament's resolution condemns the January 2024 mass arrests in Belarus of over 200 family members of political prisoners and others on 'extremism'-related charges. It calls for the release and compensation of all more than 1 400 political prisoners and their families. It says the parliamentary and local 'elections' on 25 February 2024 lack transparency, freedom and fairness and calls for their results not to be recognised. It asks the VP/HR and the Council to impose stronger sanctions on the Lukashenka regime, including on goods made with forced labour and on officials responsible for human-rights violations. It asks the Commission and member states to support documentation of violations, back an independent UN investigative mechanism, and pursue accountability through extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction.

Key points

  1. In January 2024 the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) raided, interrogated and detained over 200 family members of current and former political prisoners and beneficiaries of the 'INeedHelpBY' initiative.
  2. Additional charges were brought in absentia against 20 political analysts, journalists and sociologists dubbed 'Tsikhanouskaya's analysts', facing property confiscation and loss of citizenship if convicted.
  3. Political prisoners, including party leaders Mikalai Kazlou, Ryhor Kastusiou, Mikalai Statkevich and Pavel Seviarynets, face isolation, torture, denial of medical care and forced labour.
  4. The crackdown precedes the parliamentary and local 'elections' on 25 February 2024, and the 2023 'law on political parties' prevents democratic opposition parties from taking part.
  5. Parliament condemns the arrests, urges the Lukashenka regime to stop repression including gender-based persecution, and reminds it of its international obligations.
  6. It calls for the immediate unconditional release and compensation of all more than 1 400 political prisoners, their families and arbitrarily detained persons, and restoration of their full rights.
  7. It calls on the EU, its member states and the international community not to recognise the results of the Belarusian elections.
  8. It asks the VP/HR and the Council to impose stronger sanctions, including on goods involving political prisoners' forced labour, stricter financial sanctions, and sanctions on individuals responsible for serious human-rights violations such as high-level officials and security force members.
  9. It calls for a further reduction of Belarus's diplomatic presence in the EU, continued support for regime victims through special instruments for EU visas and residence permits, and action on statelessness.
  10. It asks the Commission and member states to support documentation of human rights violations, turn the OHCHR examination into a fully independent investigative mechanism, uphold the UN Special Rapporteur's mandate, and pursue accountability through extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction.
  11. It reiterates solidarity with the people of Belarus and support for their aspirations for a democratic and European future, and commits to working with democratic forces, civil society and independent media.

Who is affected

  • Belarusian political prisoners and their families, including the over 200 relatives detained in January 2024.
  • The Lukashenka regime and Belarusian officials and security forces, who face calls for stronger EU sanctions.
  • The EU, its member states and the international community, asked not to recognise the election results.
  • Belarusian democratic forces, civil society and independent media, with whom Parliament commits to work.

Figures and deadlines

  • over 200 family members of current and former political prisoners and 'INeedHelpBY' beneficiaries targeted in January 2024 raids
  • 20 political analysts, journalists and sociologists charged in absentia
  • 25 February 2024, date of the parliamentary and local 'elections'
  • more than 1 400 political prisoners whose release and compensation is demanded