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

B100229/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the 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,

whereas, the EU does not recognize the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election of January 26, 2025, and deems the detention of political prisoners unacceptable; whereas Belarus’s complicity in the war in Ukraine further undermines its commitment to international peace and human rights;

whereas the Lukashenka regime expands its repression beyond Belarus, targeting Belarusians abroad with surveillance, threats, and prosecutions; whereas official statements by the Investigative Committee of Belarus in January and March 2025 confirm escalating transnational repression, particularly against Freedom Day participants; whereas the regime monitors Belarusians abroad, identifying over 100 individuals linked to the Coordination Council as suspects; whereas since August 2020, the Investigative Committee labelled nearly 19,000 acts as “extremist-related crimes” while denying police violence in 2020, reflecting a systematic effort to silence dissent and dismantle opposition through intimidation and legal persecution;

Strongly condemns the continued expansion of repression by the Lukashenka regime, which now targets Belarusians abroad with criminal prosecution, asset seizures, and other measures designed to silence dissent;

Denounces the deployment of judicial instruments as tools of repression by the Belarusian Investigative Committee, which seeks to criminalize peaceful participation in pro-democracy demonstrations and intimidate both the participants and their families through pervasive surveillance and legal threats;

Condemns the systematic violation of international human rights norms ­ including the rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and political participation ­ as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reinforced by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

Demands an immediate cessation of repression against Belarusians within Belarus and abroad, including politically motivated charges, asset seizures, and surveillance of exiles and demonstrators, and calls for the release of all political prisoners;

Stresses the need for the EU and its member states to maintain public scrutiny over Belarus’ imprisonment of individuals for politically motivated charges and the targeting of their relatives, by using all public channels at their disposal to increase the visibility and names of individuals imprisoned or detained for political reasons; calls to expand and enforce targeted sanctions against Belarusian officials responsible for transnational repression;

Calls on the EU and its member states to strengthen legal protections and visa access for Belarusian exiles, pro-democracy activists, and those fleeing persecution; urges to ensure a coordinated EU response to support Belarusian citizens with expired passports who face the risk of human rights violations upon return;

Calls on the EU and its member states to maintain and expand their financial, technical, and political support for independent civil society activists, journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders operating both within Belarus and in exile; urges to continue monitoring and documenting their trials;

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