EU Parliament condemns mass arrests in Belarus
Decision
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 8 February 2024 (P9_TA(2024)0070) strongly condemning a new wave of mass arrests in Belarus targeting opposition activists and their family members. The text records that Belarusian security services carried out raids, interrogations and detentions affecting over 200 family members of current and former political prisoners and documents allegations of isolation, torture, denial of medical care and forced labour of political prisoners.
What Changes
The resolution calls for the immediate unconditional release and compensation of more than 1 400 political prisoners and their families and urges the EU and Member States not to recognise the results of the parliamentary and local elections. It calls on the VP/HR and the Council to impose stronger sanctions, including measures against goods involving political prisoners’ forced labour, stricter financial sanctions and sanctions on individuals, and asks the Commission and Member States to support documentation and independent international investigation of rights violations.
Who Is Affected
The resolution directly concerns those arrested and detained in Belarus, political prisoners and their families, the Belarusian authorities, EU institutions and Member States, and references international bodies including the UN and the OSCE.
Sources
Official Documents
- Thursday, 8 February 2024 - Strasbourg EP adopted a resolution condemning mass arrests in Belarus and calls for stronger EU sanctions, including on goods tied to forced labour of political prisoners and tougher financial measures.
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