The European Union is united in its commitment to supporting the citizens of Belarus in their fight for freedom and will continue to pressure the Aliaksandr Lukashenka (Alexander Lukashenko) regime, said Adam Szłapka, Polish Minister for European Affairs, during a debate in the European Parliament on January 21.
Following the fraudulent presidential elections of August 2020, the EU has consistently condemned the regime’s repression of journalists, trade unionists, civil society representatives, human rights activists, and national minorities.
Minister Szłapka emphasised the need for the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
“We want those responsible for human rights violations to be held accountable,” he stated. He highlighted that some detainees are held in life-threatening conditions and require urgent medical treatment.
Szłapka also noted Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, including the deportation of Ukrainian children and hybrid attacks on the EU’s external borders through the instrumentalisation of migrants. He mentioned that the EU is ready to impose further sanctions if Belarus does not change its behaviour while affirming support for those striving for a better future for the country.
Political repression continues in Belarus, with ongoing arrests and trials related to post-election protests and other opposition activities. The Viasna Center reports over 1,200 political prisoners currently detained in Belarus.
