The Council of the European Union reaffirmed, on Monday 19 February, its “unwavering support for the Belarusian people’s quest for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus as part of a peaceful and prosperous Europe”.
In the conclusions it adopted, it underlined its continued support for Belarusian civil society and democratic forces, promising that the future democratic Belarus had its place in the European family.
Recalling its deep concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, the EU Council strongly condemned the continuing campaigns of persecution and intimidation against all segments of society, the unprecedented level of repression and the restrictions on political participation “which undermine the potential for fairness and legitimacy” of the legislative and local elections scheduled for 25 February 2024.
It also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and their effective rehabilitation, deploring that they remain incarcerated in “appalling conditions, exposed to torture and ill-treatment”.
The EU Council said it was prepared to take further restrictive measures as long as the authorities continued their repressive actions, their mismanagement of the electoral process, their incitement and organisation of illegal border crossings, their human rights violations and their involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
To see the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/awp (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)