Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – MEPs, in a resolution adopted, called on the European Union to reject the upcoming presidential voting in Belarus on 26 January as a sham.
Today, on January 22, 2025, the European Parliament denounced the ongoing grave breaches of human rights and democratic codes in Belarus, which have further boosted in the run-up to the so-called presidential election on 26 January. MEPs asked the EU, its member countries and the international community to deny the legality of incumbent Aliaksandr Lukashenka as president after the vote.
How does the European Parliament view Lukashenka’s presidency?
MEPs noted that, unlike in 2020, there are only pro forma ‘candidates’ to contest him in this month’s election. While restating their non-recognition of Mr Lukashenka as President and their role that the entire Belarusian regime is unlawful, MEPs voiced their unwavering backing for the Belarusian people.
Lawmakers also raised concerns regarding the situation of political prisoners in Belarus. The resolution urges the European Union and its member states to persist in examining human rights abuses in the country and to back accountability standards, including via the application of the “universal jurisdiction” legal principle.
MEPs further criticized the Lukashenka regime’s collaboration in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and denounced its intended compliance of Belarus to Russia in a so-called union state.
How does the EU Parliament highlight rights abuses in Belarus?
The European Parliament has passed many resolutions on Belarus, especially those related to political situations under the rule of President Aliaksandr Lukashenka and the continuous infringement of human rights.
Similarly, in September 2024 resolution of the EU parliament reflected serious concerns in the situation that political prisoners within Belarus have endured isolation, bad treatment, and torture. It demanded immediate political prisoners, and it condemned the EU along with its member states for not strengthening enough sanctions against individuals responsible for Belarus repression.
According to the resolution, about 300,000 Belarusians have been forced to emigrate from Belarus since 2020 because of political persecution. This resolution condemned the systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security.
