Today, the European Parliament adopted a resolution “On the Situation in Belarus, Five Years After the Fraudulent Presidential Elections”. This document confirms continued support for the democratic forces of Belarus, calls for the release of all political prisoners, and demands new free elections under international supervision.
The resolution condemns repression and the regime’s involvement in the war against Ukraine and calls for strengthened sanctions against those responsible. The European Parliament urges the EU to provide long-term support to Belarusian civil society, independent media, students, and professionals in exile, as well as to investigate crimes against humanity committed by the regime.
The resolution reiterates that the European Parliament does not recognize Aliaksandr Lukashenka as the legitimate President of Belarus and confirms its support for the democratic forces of Belarus under the leadership of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people; it calls on the EU and its member states to cooperate with non-EU countries to strengthen the policy of non-recognition of Lukashenka as President of Belarus; and calls for continued EU engagement with Belarusian democratic actors, ensuring that their efforts receive political, financial, and security support.
It calls on the EU and its member states to continue supporting the democratic forces of Belarus, civil society, students, researchers, journalists, trade union leaders, professionals in exile, and others, including providing visas, scholarships, grants, networking opportunities, and measures to ensure their safety; it urges guaranteeing systematic and long-term assistance to independent media, including funding, as well as strengthening the capacity-building of key democratic structures, including the Office of the Elected President Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, and democratic political parties.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We are grateful for this resolution – it demonstrates the European Parliament’s solidarity with the Belarusian people and is an important step in our struggle for freedom. But it is crucial that it becomes a guide to action – practical steps that European governments can take to provide real support to Belarus. This is exactly what I called for today in Strasbourg”.
