On the severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus

B100026/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus

(2024/2804(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the next election in Belarus are foreseen in early 2025;

B. whereas the freedom of assembly, free speech and fair trial rights are paramount to democratic regimes;

C. whereas UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus, amongst others, have attested of multiple reports of cruel and ill treatment in detention; whereas many political detainees are in critical condition, with deteriorating health, such as Maria Kalesnikava and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ales Bialiatski, Chairperson of Human Rights Centre Viasna; whereas political prisoners are held incommunicado;

D. whereas Aliaksandr Yarashuk, the President of Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on 27 December 2022 under probed charges; whereas he is currently in a “strict regime” prison where he is kept in a cell for 23 hours a day and allowed just one four-hour visit and one item of post per year;

Strongly condemns the crackdown on political opponents, trade unionists, journalists and NGOs;

Acknowledges with satisfaction the release of 78 political prisoners by presidential pardon;

Notes, however, that an estimated 1,348 people are still behind bars for political reasons;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including trade unionists;

Deplores the inhumane conditions of detention imposed on political detainees, including trade unionists; calls on Belarusian authorities to uphold their international obligations;

Invites Serbian authorities, in the light of the above, to cease the extradition process of Belarusian journalist, activist and human rights defender, Andrei Gnyot;

Is particularly alarmed at the repression of journalists; notes with dismay that 2023 was already the deadliest year for journalists in the world; is concerned at this worrying picture for the guarantee of information;

Deeply regrets that the Government of Belarus chose not to cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus;

Reaffirms its position against the death penalty; underlines that Belarus is the only country in Europe that still has the death penalty in its penal code; calls on the Belarusian authorities to abolish the death penalty;

Praises the work of the Council of Europe on 15-point plan for Belarus, including with regard journalists;

Calls on the EU and its member states to provide full support to the newly established UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus to collect and preserve evidence of potential international crimes beyond the 2020 election period, and to provide further authoritative legal qualification under international law of continuing grave abuses, with a view to advancing accountability;

Reiterates its solidarity with the people of Belarus and their aspirations;

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.