The European Parliament demands the release of all political prisoners in Belarus and calls for documenting the crimes of the Lukashenka regime
The European Parliament called on the countries of the European Union to support political prisoners in Belarus and their families, as well as to increase pressure on the regime through new sanctions. The European Parliament has approved a resolution demanding the release of Mikalai Statkevich and all political prisoners in Belarus, as well as dropping charges against them, their full rehabilitation, and compensation for the damage caused as a result of imprisonment.
The resolution was approved in connection with the prolonged isolation of Mikalai Statkevich: there has been no information about him for more than 300 days. Other well-known Belarusian political prisoners are in the same conditions, including Ales Bialiatski, Maryia Kalesnikava, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Viktar Babaryka, Maksim Znak, Pavel Seviarynets, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, Andzhei Pachobut, and Ihar Losik.
Members of the European Parliament insist on the need to provide political prisoners with proper medical care and access to lawyers, family, diplomats, and international organizations who can assess their condition and help. The resolution deplores the inaction of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Belarus.
The resolution condemns "unjustified, politically motivated sentences and the continuation of repressions against the Belarusian democratic forces, civil society, human rights defenders, trade unionists, journalists, clergy, political activists and their families," and also expresses "firm solidarity with the people, the democratic opposition and civil society of Belarus in their struggle for a free, sovereign, and democratic Belarus."
The European Parliament called on the countries of the European Union to support political prisoners and their families, as well as to increase pressure on the regime through new sanctions. At the same time, they urge countries to continue issuing humanitarian visas to persecuted Belarusian citizens, as well as to develop an effective response to the ban on exchanging Belarusian passports outside the country.
The MEPs called on the EU countries to "ensure continuous documentation of international crimes and demand responsibility at the UN level through the study of the human rights situation and through compliance with the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human rights in Belarus."
The European Parliament repeated "its call for the prosecution and imposition of sanctions against all those responsible for human rights violations and war crimes of the Lukashenka regime."
