Le Président. – L’ordre du jour appelle à présent le débat sur six propositions de résolution concernant le risque imminent de répression accrue de la part du régime de Loukachenko en Biélorussie et les menaces provenant du Comité d'enquête[].
Miriam Lexmann, author. – MrPresident, Commissioner, dear colleagues, it has been almost a decade since the EU lifted sanctions on Belarus due to the so-called 'improvement' of the human rights situation at that time. As a representative of civil society, I warned against this step. Already then, we knew the real face of Lukashenka.
Since then, I have spoken in this House on many occasions on the worsening human rights situation in Belarus. Some time ago we have been talking about 700 political prisoners; today we speak about 1300 political prisoners in Belarus.
In fact, thousands of political prisoners languish in inhuman conditions, subject to torture simply because of their desire to live in a free and democratic country.
The independent press has been shattered, journalists silenced, media outlets banned, and representatives of civil society imprisoned. The media is replaced by a Soviet style of propaganda.
This has to stop. Instead of 'condemning' and 'urging', we have to act. And the real act is to double down on sanctions against those who enable this inhuman regime. Because Lukashenka's oppression, built on electoral fraud and a systematic crackdown on citizens, represents a direct threat, an assault on the fundamental principles of democracy, human rights and freedom – our core values.
And let us not forget, while the EU has invested in time and effort to treat Belarus differently, step by step, Belarus has become a Russian puppet state. We cannot ignore this. The deepening cooperation between Minsk and Moscow, their coordination in military intelligence and other fields pose a direct threat not only to the Belarusian people, but also to the security of EU.
The European Union must stand with the people of Belarus. We must support the people's desire to live in a free, democratic and prosperous Belarus. Zhyve Belarus!
Małgorzata Gosiewska, autorka. – Panie Przewodniczący! Dziś w sercu Europy musimy powiedzieć głośno: Białoruś to krwawiąca rana Europy! Wiktoria Kulsza – 1605 dni w niewoli. Volha Majorawa – 1544, Alona Hnauk – 1172 dni w niewoli. Te kobiety nie są więźniarkami. To zakładniczki reżimu Łukaszenki.
Wiktoria Kulsza umiera na naszych oczach. Przechodzi piekło tortur. Próby samobójcze, głodówki, wyniszczenie organizmu i psychiki. Administracja kolonii przekształciła więzienie w obóz koncentracyjny XXI wieku.
Volha Majorawa traci wzrok. Odmawia się jej leczenia. Reżim uznał ją za terrorystkę, aby móc powoli ją uśmiercać.
Alona Hnauk nie wie, że jej dzieci uciekły przed prześladowaniami. Odcięta od świata, brutalnie eksploatowana, pozbawiona godności.
Andrzej Poczobut, białoruski i polski dziennikarz, więzień sumienia – zamknięty w kolonii karnej o najostrzejszym rygorze, poddawany psychicznym i fizycznym represjom tylko za to, że jest głosem prawdy.
Europa musi działać natychmiast. Każdy dzień zwłoki to kolejne ofiary łukaszenkowskiego terroru. Żądamy sankcji, żądamy pełnej izolacji reżimu!
Helmut Brandstätter, author. – Madam President, Madame Commissaire, Belarusians are Europeans just like us – they share our values, they want to live with us, and one day they will find their rightful place in the European family. Until then, they have to fight for freedom, and we have to support them. Especially, we have to support now their political prisoners. Sergei Tsikhanouski is one of them, and he's in prison because he wanted to run against the president. Then his wife took over the fight for freedom, and she had to leave the country, although she won the presidency. When I talked to her last time, she told me that for more than two years she hasn't heard anything about her husband. So you see what a cruel regime it is.
Today, on 2April, Lukashenka and Putin say they have a day of unity. It's not a day of unity of two peoples. It's a day of unity of two dictators, and it's very important to say that we will continue to support the real people in Belarus, that we have to have stronger sanctions against the leadership, and that we will work for the freedom of Belarusians. Zhyve Belarus!
Mārtiņš Staķis, author. – Mr Preisdent, if someone from Belarusian opposition spoke here today, they would be risking for freedom, safety and family well-being. In Belarus, the government doesn't just go after those who speak out inside the country, it also punishes those who voice their opinions, even here in the European Union.
Simply travelling to the EU or speaking up can lead to jail time and losing everything they owned. This is one of the regime's many tactics. Take Aleksandra Herasimenia, Olympic medallist. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison and had her property take away just for protesting peacefully. Her story. Just one of the thousands.
Belarus is losing what little independence it has left. Putin may soon take full control, turning this country into a base of new wars. That is why standing with the people of Belarus who want freedom is more important than ever.
(the speaker finishes in a non-EU language)
Merja Kyllönen, laatija. – Arvoisa puhemies, Lukašenkan hallinto ei ainoastaan riko räikeästi omien kansalaistensa perusoikeuksia, se uhkaa myös alueellista vakautta ja turvallisuutta. Väkivallan, vainon ja pelon ilmapiiri Valko-Venäjällä on seurausta autoritaarisesta hallinnosta, joka ei kaihda keinoja pysyäkseen vallassa. Kun demokratiaa murennetaan yhdellä Euroopan alueella, me emme voi olla vain huolissamme, tarvitsemme vahvempia pakotteita ja kovempia sanktioita.
Meidän on lisättävä painetta poliittisten vankien vapauttamiseksi ja seistävä riippumattoman median sekä ihmisoikeuksien puolustajien tukena. Jokainen vaiennettu ääni on menetys meille kaikille, jotka uskomme demokratiaan ja oikeusvaltioon. Meidän velvollisuutemme on varmistaa, että he eivät jää yksin. Euroopan unionin on oltava se voima, joka murtaa autoritäärisiä johtajia ja pelon ilmapiiriä rakentamalla toivoa ja vakautta.
Michał Szczerba, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, Vice-President, dear Commissioner, the Lukashenka regime is tightening its grip. The threats from the Investigative Committee are yet another sign that no one is safe. Journalists, activists and ordinary citizens are being hunted down, imprisoned and silenced. This is state terror in action.
But let's be clear: this is not just a human rights crisis; it's a security crisis, and it is not just about Belarus. A dictatorship in Minsk is a security threat to all of Europe. Belarus is no longer a sovereign state. It has been transformed into a military extension of Russia. It has become a large part for Russia aggression and a hub for hybrid warfare against Europe. Lukashenka has handed over his country to Kremlin. The people of Belarus are still resisting. We must match their courage. They are not giving up, and neither should we.
Finally, let us not forget about Andrzej Poczobut. His unjust imprisonment is a message to us all. If we fail to defend those fighting for freedom, we are undermining our own.
Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, on behalf of the S&D Group. – MrPresident, Commissioner, colleagues, once again at the European Ϸվ we discuss the tricks of Lukashenka's regime to further tighten the grip of his power.
I totally agree that we should impose sanctions against the individuals running the Investigative Committee. But we should also discuss how we can help each and every political prisoner who is held behind the bars by the regime, especially for those high-profile political prisoners such as Mikalai Statkevich or Maria Kolesnikova.
We need to seek a prisoner exchange similar to the one organised with Putin's regime in August 2024. I am not naive – Lukashenka will not stop persecuting political opponents. But I believe that with the right political will, it would be possible to help at least a few of the longest-serving political prisoners. And in no way will it be a concession to the regime, as it was not a concession to Putin during the prisoner exchange with Putin's regime.
Dainius Žalimas, on behalf of the Renew Group. – Mr President, dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, recently, we marked the Belarusian Freedom Day, anniversary of the proclamation of democratic Belarus in 1918. Peaceful Belarusians who commemorated this day publicly in Lithuania, Poland, Germany and elsewhere abroad are now being persecuted by the so-called Investigative Committee of Belarus with threats of imprisonment and confiscation of their property.
Needless to say, this is one more crime against humanity involving gross violations of universally recognised human rights. We do know all the names of the organisers and perpetrators of this crime, and that this time extends the Belarusian borders.
Therefore, first, the EU Member States must effectively apply universal jurisdiction in respect of all crimes of the Lukashenka regime. Regretfully, this is not the case yet. And now the National Prosecutor's office hasn't named any suspects.
Second, the EU must target by sanctions all the employees of the so-called investigative committee.
And third, the sanctions have to include the confiscation of Lukashenka's and his associates assets for the purpose to compensate the damage done to the repressed Belarusian people.
This is a language that all the dictators can understand.
Petar Volgin, от името на групата ESN. – Колеги, американският вицепрезидент Джей Ди Ванс наскоро каза, че най-голямата заплаха за Европа идва не от външни играчи, а от факта, че тя се отказва от основни свои ценности. Да, Евросъюзът потъпква както свободата, така и демокрацията. Евроначалниците постоянно се упражняват в писане на резолюции срещу Русия, Китай, Беларус и в същото време не спазват човешките права в собствените си държави.
В Румъния, която според Брюксел била свръхдемократична държава, отмениха изборите и забраниха на неудобния кандидат Калин Джорджеску да участва в новия вот. Във Франция използваха съда, за да елиминират най-вероятната победителка на следващите избори Марин льо Пен. В Молдова арестуваха ръководителката на гагаузкия автономен регион Евгения Гуцу, която не се страхува да критикува любимата на Брюксел молдовска президентка Мая Санду. Граждани на държави – членки на Европейския съюз, също стават обект на съдебно преследване, само защото са дръзнали да се противопоставят на брюкселската пропаганда.
Така че, уважаеми лидери на ЕС, не гледайте сламката в окото на Русия или Беларус. Вижте гредите във вашите собствени очи.
Hadja Lahbib, Member of the Commission. – MrPresident, honourable Members of Ϸվ, the situation in Belarus is alarming and still deteriorating. The Lukashenka regime is escalating its campaign of fear, repression and persecution. Nearly 1200 political prisoners still remain behind bars in appalling conditions, with many of them denied access to any contact with the outside world. All voices of dissidence, including civil society organisations and independent media, have been dismantled.
The latest persecutions by the regime's Investigative Committee against peaceful protesters in European cities reaches beyond Belarus' borders, threatening those in exile and those who support democracy from afar. This is not the first time that the regime tries to intimidate and repress those who fled the country. For instance, it is currently impossible to apply for a Belarusian passport or any other documents abroad. What we are seeing this time is illegitimate judicial persecution in absentia against peaceful dissidents.
In response to those and other violations by the regime since 2020, the EU has been pursuing a twofold strategy: pursuing and isolating the regime and supporting the Belarusian people. On 27March, the European Union adopted new restrictive measures against the regime in the context of the so-called 'election' in January: 25 individuals and seven entities were sanctioned for their support of the repressive regime, as well as its complicity in Russia's illegal war against Ukraine.
We are supporting judicial efforts against the perpetrators, leading resolutions at the Human Rights Council and supporting the International Accountability Platform for Belarus.
The EU has continued to raise awareness about the situation of political prisoners and urge their immediate Egypt and unconditional release. Even though we have seen almost 260 people released since July 2024, the repression does not stop and does not decrease.
The EU continues to support Belarusian democratic forces under the leadership of Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya and Belarusian civil society. In December last year, we reaffirmed our commitment with a new contribution of EUR30 million for the people of Belarus. This brings our overall support to EUR170 million since 2020.
The European Union will continue to stand firm in its commitment and support the people of Belarus. We will continue to exert pressure on the regime with every tool at our disposal, as well as demand justice for the perpetrators of human rights violations, as demonstrated in December last year during the Belarus days in Brussels.
The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus. We will continue this support and the quest for a free and democratic Belarus as part of a peaceful Europe.