On Immediate risk of further repression by Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus: threats from the Investigative Committee

B100221/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Immediate risk of further repression by Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus: threats from the Investigative Committee

(2025/2629(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas ever since peaceful protests broke out against the massively falsified presidential election of 9 August 2020, the Lukashenka regime, with Russian support, has been continuing its severe repression against the Belarusian people, with many citizens being harassed, arrested, tortured and convicted for expressing opposition to the regime or for protesting against the falsification of the election or the systematic human rights violations;

B. whereas, since 2020, tens of thousands of people have been arbitrarily detained and, as of March 2025, there remain 1 200 political prisoners in Belarus, many of whom suffer under life-threatening conditions; whereas the actual number of political prisoners might be substantially higher;

C. whereas recent statements by the Investigative Committee of Belarus point to increased repression, in particular through broadened surveillance and threats against Belarusian citizens abroad;

D. whereas the recent suspension of the right to asylum by the Polish government might negatively affect Belarusians fleeing persecution;

1.Calls for an immediate end to the repression of the people of Belarus and reiterates its firm solidarity with all those who continue to fight the Lukashenka regime’s massive and systematic repression in Belarus and against Belarusian citizens abroad;

2.Urges to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners;

3.Reiterates its concern about the situation regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus, including the unabated systematic repression, the continued crackdown on the democratic opposition, civil society, independent media, trade unions, religious organisations and political parties, persistent impunity, and the structural lack of respect for due process and fair trials;

4.Expresses concern about intensified persecution committed in exile, such as the abuse of Interpol arrest warrants by the Lukashenka regime to bring about the extradition of political opponents from non-EU countries as well as the intensified surveillance of and threats against Belarusian citizens abroad;

5.Calls on the countries concerned not to extradite Belarusian citizens who have fled the Lukashenka regime and may face persecution on their return to Belarus; calls for the EU and its Member States to raise the abuse of international arrest warrants with Interpol;

6.Notes the increased targeting of individuals linked to the representative structures established by the democratic forces of Belarus in exile; urges the Commission and the Member States to continue assisting Belarusian democratic forces, civil society and independent media and encourages the representatives of the democratic forces to maintain and promote unity, based on the objective of a free, democratic and independent Belarus, among all Belarusian democratic forces and civil society;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and the de facto authorities of the Republic of Belarus.