STATEMENT BY MAŁGORZATA GOSIEWSKA, CHAIR,ON BEHALF OF THE BUREAU OF THE EP DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH BELARUS
Brussels, 20 February 2025 - Today, we mark the first anniversary of the death of Ihar Lednik, a Belarusian political prisoner who passed away on February 20, 2024, at the age of 64 in a penal colony in Mahilioŭ. Ihar Lednik was sentenced to three years in prison for "insulting" Aliaksandr Lukashenka in an article published in Pazicyja, the magazine of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party.
The tragic death of Ihar Lednik is yet another testament to the brutality of the regime, its disregard for human life and dignity, and its complete neglect of Belarus' international obligations. Despite the recent release of some political prisoners, more than 1,200 brave Belarusians who opposed the regime remain imprisoned in dire conditions, subjected to torture and inhumane treatment.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Ihar's family and friends, as well as to all those who, in these dark times of widespread persecution and oppression, continue to fight for a free, sovereign, and democratic Belarus. Together, we must continue our struggle for the Belarusian people's right to freely determine their future. We must not allow dictators to prevail.
We urgently renew our call to the European Union and its Member States to work tirelessly with Belarusian democratic forces to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners held in Belarusian detention facilities.
Brussels, 20 February 2025 - Today, we mark the first anniversary of the death of Ihar Lednik, a Belarusian political prisoner who passed away on February 20, 2024, at the age of 64 in a penal colony in Mahilioŭ. Ihar Lednik was sentenced to three years in prison for "insulting" Aliaksandr Lukashenka in an article published in Pazicyja, the magazine of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party.
The tragic death of Ihar Lednik is yet another testament to the brutality of the regime, its disregard for human life and dignity, and its complete neglect of Belarus' international obligations. Despite the recent release of some political prisoners, more than 1,200 brave Belarusians who opposed the regime remain imprisoned in dire conditions, subjected to torture and inhumane treatment.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Ihar's family and friends, as well as to all those who, in these dark times of widespread persecution and oppression, continue to fight for a free, sovereign, and democratic Belarus. Together, we must continue our struggle for the Belarusian people's right to freely determine their future. We must not allow dictators to prevail.
We urgently renew our call to the European Union and its Member States to work tirelessly with Belarusian democratic forces to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners held in Belarusian detention facilities.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP