Paris Memorandum
Alliance of Parliamentary Groups “For a Democratic Belarus”
We, the representatives of parliamentary groups “For a Democratic Belarus” of national parliaments and international parliamentary organizations, at the 3rd meeting of the Alliance of Parliamentary Groups “For a Democratic Belarus” in Paris, reaffirm our common goal – the restoration of democracy in Belarus through free and fair elections, and the promotion of Belarus’s European integration as a guarantee of its independence.
In doing so:
- Considering Belarus as an integral part of the European historical and cultural space;
- Reaffirming the non-recognition of the results of rigged anti-democratic elections conducted by the regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka;
- Distinguishing the illegitimate regime – which has become an accomplice in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine – from the people of Belarus;
- Supporting the activities of the democratic forces of Belarus, who de facto represent the Belarusian people and their will to live in a democratic, independent state: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, National Leader of Belarus; the United Transitional Cabinet; the Coordination Council; democratic political parties; civil society organizations and initiatives; human rights defenders; independent media;
- Relying on the provisions of the Letter of Intent on Cooperation between the European Parliament and the Belarusian Democratic Forces, signed on May 3, 2024;
- Welcoming the representation and work of the Democratic Forces in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in accordance with Assembly Resolution No. 2530 “On the Democratic Future of Belarus” of January 25, 2024;
- Regarding the Luxembourg Solutions adopted on June 6-7, 2024 as a mechanism for the systemic resolution of challenges faced by hundreds of thousands of Belarusians in exile;
- Noting that the threats to regional security caused by the policies of the Lukashenka regime will remain until the socio-political crisis in Belarus is resolved;
We approve the following points of the Paris Memorandum as a plan of joint action for solidarity and positive change in Belarus, namely:
- We recommend that national parliaments prepare and sign Memoranda of Cooperation between Parliaments and the Belarusian Democratic Forces;
- We propose to initiate the establishment of parliamentary cooperation groups with the Belarusian Democratic Forces in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as well as in the national parliaments of democratic countries where they have not yet been created;
- We call on all democratic forces and political parties of Belarus to actively participate in the elections to the Coordination Council in May 2026, to jointly ensure that it becomes a representative and influential body of the pro-democratic transition in Belarus;
- We encourage national parliaments to establish and strengthen relations with the Coordination Council and sister political parties, thereby enhancing the international representation and legitimacy of Belarusian democratic forces;
- We seek to end the participation of the Lukashenka regime in Russia’s war against Ukraine, to hold it accountable for war crimes and for hybrid warfare against neighboring states;
- We recommend groups “For a Democratic Belarus” to promote the implementation of the Luxembourg Solutions into national legislation, including creating better opportunities for the mobility of Belarusians: obtaining visas, crossing borders, ensuring the legal status of Belarusians in EU countries, preserving cultural and linguistic identity;
- We demand the immediate stop of repressions and the urgent unconditional release of all Belarusian political prisoners, without their forced deportation from Belarus;
- We welcome the initiatives voiced at the Paris Meeting, including, the holding of a Congress of symbolic godparents of Belarusian political prisoners.
