Resolution on the immediate risk of further repression by Lukashenka's regime in Belarus - threats from the Investigative Committee 2025/2629(RSP) 03/04/2025
Parliament demanded that Lukashenka's regime immediately cease its repression, including the surveillance of exiles and demonstrators, and release and rehabilitate all political prisoners.
Condemning how Belarusians abroad are also increasingly the target of repression, EU-wide legal support and protection is needed for exiled Belarusians by simplifying procedures for obtaining visas, resident permits and provisional IDs for individuals made stateless by extraterritorial persecution.
Parliament reiterated its non-recognition of Lukashenka and considered the persecution of Belarusian citizens for peaceful democratic activities abroad via Investigative Committee 'special proceedings' to be a direct violation of the Member States' territorial sovereignty. Therefore, it urged the countries concerned to disregard Interpol arrest warrants for the extradition of Lukashenka's political opponents.
Members urged the immediate imposition of personal sanctions on officials responsible for transnational persecution and intimidation, including members of the Belarusian Investigative Committee. They also advocated the swift development and enforcement of a legal mechanism to identify, freeze and confiscate all assets and property outside Belarus owned by Lukashenka and his inner circle, with a view to reallocating them to a fund supporting victims of repression.
The EU is urged to:
- impose further sanctions equal to those imposed on Russia, particularly on officials responsible for transnational repression;
- increase political, financial and technical support for the independent media, human rights defenders, trade unions and civil society initiatives operating within and outside Belarus, including monitoring trials and increasing the visibility of political prisoners.
Lastly, Members urged the International Criminal Court to expedite proceedings on crimes against humanity by Lukashenka's regime and demands that Member States pursue accountability through national proceedings, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Parliament demanded that Lukashenka's regime immediately cease its repression, including the surveillance of exiles and demonstrators, and release and rehabilitate all political prisoners.
Condemning how Belarusians abroad are also increasingly the target of repression, EU-wide legal support and protection is needed for exiled Belarusians by simplifying procedures for obtaining visas, resident permits and provisional IDs for individuals made stateless by extraterritorial persecution.
Parliament reiterated its non-recognition of Lukashenka and considered the persecution of Belarusian citizens for peaceful democratic activities abroad via Investigative Committee 'special proceedings' to be a direct violation of the Member States' territorial sovereignty. Therefore, it urged the countries concerned to disregard Interpol arrest warrants for the extradition of Lukashenka's political opponents.
Members urged the immediate imposition of personal sanctions on officials responsible for transnational persecution and intimidation, including members of the Belarusian Investigative Committee. They also advocated the swift development and enforcement of a legal mechanism to identify, freeze and confiscate all assets and property outside Belarus owned by Lukashenka and his inner circle, with a view to reallocating them to a fund supporting victims of repression.
The EU is urged to:
- impose further sanctions equal to those imposed on Russia, particularly on officials responsible for transnational repression;
- increase political, financial and technical support for the independent media, human rights defenders, trade unions and civil society initiatives operating within and outside Belarus, including monitoring trials and increasing the visibility of political prisoners.
Lastly, Members urged the International Criminal Court to expedite proceedings on crimes against humanity by Lukashenka's regime and demands that Member States pursue accountability through national proceedings, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP