D-BY - European Parliament

General documents - D-BY meeting on 14 June 2023 in Strasbourg - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 07:25:59 GMT

Exchange of views on the security implications for Europe of the Belarus-Russia military cooperation with Mr Artyom Shraibman, Non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Russia and Eurasia Centre; Mr Pavel Slunkin, Visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations; and Mr Valery Kavaleuski, Representative for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - Ad hoc mission of the Delegation to Lithuania, 15-17 May 2023 - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 07:23:39 GMT

Meetings with (by chronological order):

· Mr Anatoly Liabedzka, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Representative for the Constitutional Reform and relations with Parliaments, and his colleagues;

· Members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (Standing Committees on National Security and on Foreign Affairs) and representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces;

· Representatives of the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania;

· Commanders of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" in Panevėžys;

· Representatives of the State Border Guard Service of the Republic of Lithuania in Padvarionys;

· Representatives of independent Belarusian trade unions;

· Representatives of think tanks and Belarusian civil society and diaspora organisations;

· Representatives of independent Belarusian media;

· Mr Jonas Survila, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania;

· The academic staff and students of the European Humanities University.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - EP resolution Belarus: the inhumane treatment and hospitalisation of prominent opposition leader Viktar Babaryka - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Fri, 12 May 2023 10:33:34 GMT

The text adopted was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA and ECR groups.

Members urged the Belarusian authorities to immediately cease the mistreatment of Viktar Babaryka and other political prisoners, and to ensure proper medical assistance and access to lawyers, family, diplomats and international organisations.

Members called for the EU and the Member States to develop a targeted EU assistance programme to help victims of political repression, to expand and ensure the proper enforcement of EU sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for the repression in Belarus, and to sanction officials responsible for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus.

The text of the resolution

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BY meeting on 19 April 2023 in Strasbourg - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 13:45:58 GMT

Exchange of views on the EU sanctions against the Belarusian regime (impact, implementation and risks of circumvention) and on economic perspectives for Belarus with Mr Julien Bourtembourg, Deputy Head of Division at the European External Action Service; Mr Aleś Alachnovič, Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Representative for economic reforms; Mr Stanislau Ivashkevich, investigative journalist; and Mr Pavel Slunkin, Visiting Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - EP resolution on further repression against the people of Belarus, in particular the cases of Andrzej Poczobut and Ales Bialiatski - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:22:30 GMT

The text adopted was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR and The Left groups.

Members strongly condemned the continued repression against dissenting voices in Belarus, including through politically motivated and closed-door mock trials, and denounced the recent sentencing to long jail terms of journalist Andrzej Poczobut and Sakharov Prize and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialatski, as well as prison sentences handed out in absentia to exiled Belarusian opposition leaders including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

As the Belarusian regime is acting as an accomplice to the Russian state's sponsorship of terrorism, Members called on the EU to expand its sanctions. In addition, the EU countries should prepare court cases against Belarusian officials involved in human rights violations under the universal jurisdiction principle.

Members called on EU institutions to support the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Brussels and strengthen ties with democratic forces.

The full text of the resolution in English
The full text of the resolution in Russian
The full text of the resolution in Belarusian

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - Joint statement on the occasion of Belarus' Freedom Day - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:34:58 GMT

Joint statement by:

· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on the occasion of Belarus' Freedom Day

Brussels, 25 March 2023 - "Today, our thoughts are with the people of Belarus on the occasion of Freedom Day. 105 years ago, on 25 March 1918, the Belarusian People's Republic was proclaimed in Minsk. Although the Republic succumbed the next year under the assault of the Bolsheviks, it remains cherished in the memory of many Belarusians as a glorious episode in their country's history.

This Republic's legacy resonates today as the dictator who stole the 2020 presidential election, Aliaksandr Lukashenka, is trading Belarus' sovereign and national interests for keeping his personal power inside the country, even if it means becoming a mere vassal of the Kremlin and an accomplice in Vladimir Putin's atrocious war of aggression against Ukraine. Lukashenka's regime once tried to fool Europe with its so-called 'multi-vector foreign policy', but the masks are off now. In order to please his masters and sponsors, Lukashenka has not hesitated to turn his back on Belarusian history, cultural heritage and language.

As all-out repression against dissenting voices continues unabated, we stand in solidarity with all those who fight to live in a free, sovereign and democratic Belarus, and with all the political prisoners who have been deprived of their liberty solely because they wanted to exercise their fundamental rights or showed their attachment to their home country.

We strongly believe in the European future of the Belarusian nation and hope that it will achieve its well-being together with us.

Zhyve Belarus!"

Joint statement on the occasion of Belarus' Freedom Day : [EN]

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BY meeting on 1 March 2023 in Brussels - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:29:16 GMT

Exchange of views on possible avenues for enhanced cooperation with EU Member States' national parliaments in Belarus-related activities. Exchange of views with Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, and her team of advisers on the political, economic and social situation in and around Belarus, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - Joint statement on the sentencing of Ales Bialiatski, Valianstin Stefanovic and Uladzimir Labkovich to long prison terms in Belarus - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 09:03:12 GMT

Joint statement by:

the Vice-President responsible for the Sakharov Network, MEP Heidi HAUTALA,
the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, MEP Udo BULLMANN,
the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and
the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Brussels, 3 March 2023 - "Today, a rubber-stamp court in Minsk found Sakharov Prize and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, founder of the Viasna human rights centre Ales Bialiatski guilty of 'smuggling' and 'grossly violating public order' and sentenced him to ten years in a penal colony and a heavy fine. His colleagues, member of the board of Viasna and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights Valianstin Stefanovic, and Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich, were handed down sentences of nine and seven years, respectively, while human rights defender Zmitser Salauyou was sentenced to eight years in abstentia. [...]

The full text of the joint statement of 3 March 2023

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - D-BY meeting on 18 January 2023 in Strasbourg - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 08:34:32 GMT

Exchange of views on the situation of trade unions and infringements of workers' rights in Belarus, with Ms Maryia Taradzeskaya, Member of the Coordination Council and Deputy President of the Belarusian Free Trade Union; Mr Anton Leppik, Executive Secretary of the Pan-European Regional Council at the International Trade Union Confederation; and Ms Inga Ruginiené, President of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation. Exchange of views on the persecution of priests and believers, with Ms Olga Karach, Director of Our House.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - Statement on the politically motivated trials in Belarus - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 15:43:17 GMT

Joint Statement by:

· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur for Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on the politically motivated trials of democratic forces and civil society figures in Belarus

Brussels, 23 January 2023 - "We condemn in the strongest terms the trial in abstentia that started last week against leaders of the Belarusian democratic forces. The Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is widely considered to be the real winner of the 2020 presidential election is being tried alongside figures of the Coordination Council - Maryia Damoz, Volha Kavalkova, Pavel Latushka and Siarhei Dyleuski on trumped-up charges of "inciting hatred" and creating "extremist groups". All five of them went into self-exile during the deadly crackdown on the mass protests triggered by electoral fraud and by Aliaksandr Lukashenka's refusal to concede his defeat and relinquish power.

Similarly, we are gravely concerned by the on-going, politically motivated trials of Sakharov Prize and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aleś Bialiatski, who devoted his entire life to promoting democratic change in Belarus, of two members of his Viasna human rights centre, Valyantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich, and of journalist and activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus, Andrzej Poczobut.

There is no doubt that these sham trials aim to instigate fear, silence independent voices and close all remaining space for a genuine political debate in Belarus.

The number of political prisoners in Belarus, as listed by Viasna, is unprecedented, nearing 1,500. It could be even much higher in reality, as many victims do not reach out to human rights defenders, for fear of further persecution [...]

Statement on the politically motivated trials in Belarus

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - Joint statement on Maryia Kalesnikava's deteriorating health - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:36:29 GMT

Joint Statement by:

the Vice-President responsible for the Sakharov Network, MEP Heidi HAUTALA,
the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS,
the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, MEP Maria ARENA, and
the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur for Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on democracy activist and Sakharov Prize laureate Maryia Kalesnikava's deteriorating health

Brussels, 30 November 2022 - "We are deeply alarmed by the recent reports pointing to a sharp deterioration in Maryia Kalesnikava's health.

A key figure of the democratic movement during the 2020 presidential election campaign in Belarus, Sakharov Prize laureate Maryia Kalesnikava resisted the illegitimate authorities' attempt to force her into exile. In reprisal, she was sentenced in September 2021 to 11 years in prison on trumped-up charges of 'harming national security'.

After suffering for many days from the harsh conditions of solitary confinement - the so-called 'punishment cell' of her Homyel prison, allegedly for 'being impolite', she was admitted in intensive care and underwent stomach surgery on Monday. [...]

The full text of the joint statement of 30 November 2022

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - EP resolution on the continuing repression of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 15:26:28 GMT

The text adopted was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA and ECR groups.

Members strongly condemn the sentences handed down to more than 1 400 political prisoners in Belarus and denounce the ongoing incarceration of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ales Bialiatski.

Belarus should be recognised as an occupied territory from which Russian troops should immediately withdraw. Members strongly condemns Lukashenka's regime's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine. The regime shares responsibility with Russia for war crimes, for which it should be held accountable before an international tribunal and the ICC.

Members reiterate their call on EU countries and the European Commission to impose the same sanctions on Belarus that they have imposed on Russia, encourage the EU institutions to support Belarusian independent news outlets, and call for more systematic cooperation between the EU and Belarusian democratic forces.

The full text of the resolution of 24 November 2022

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - D-BY meeting on 13 October 2022 - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 07:33:56 GMT

Exchange of views on the political, social and economic situation in and around Belarus, with Members of the Coordination Council and Coordination Council's working groups: Ms Volha Kavalkova, member of the Presidium, representative for human capital development; Mr Anton Radniankou, press secretary; Ms Tatiana Marinich, representative for business and innovative economy; Mr Vital Rymasheuski, working groups on the regions and trade unions; Ms Alina Kharysava, students' independent trade union and network; Mr Paval Tsierashkovich, working group on education; and Ms Halina Matsiushyna, NGO sector in Belgium.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - AFET meeting of 13 October 2022, in association with the D-BY - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 07:33:48 GMT

Exchange of views on the political situation in Belarus, with Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the democratic forces of Belarus.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Joint statement on Lukashenka's regime's increasing involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:21:21 GMT

Joint statement by:

· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on Lukashenka's regime's increasing involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine

Brussels, 13 October 2022 - "Today, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, reminded us during her visit to the European Parliament that an overwhelming majority of the people of Belarus are opposed to their country' involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and are concerned about the future of their relations with the people of Ukraine.

Yet, earlier this week, Aliaksandr Lukashenka made unfounded accusations about alleged threats to Belarus emanating from Kyiv and the West, and claimed that neighbouring EU Member States were training Belarusian radical fighters. The illegal regime also announced that Belarusian troops would be deployed on the border with Ukraine alongside Russian forces. [...]

The text of the full statement of 13 October 2022

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Joint statement on the detention of EU Chargé d'Affaires in Minsk - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:23:17 GMT

Joint statement by:

· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on the illegal detention of EU Chargé d'Affaires Evelina Schulz in Minsk

Brussels, 8 September 2022 - "On Tuesday, Ms Evelina Schulz, Chargé d'Affaires at the EU Delegation to Belarus, was detained for two hours at a police station in Minsk after attending yet another sham trial of political prisoners. Following this trial, Viasna Human Rights Centre's coordinator Marfa Rabkova and volunteer Andrei Chapiuk were sentenced to fifteen and six years in prison, respectively. [...]

The full text of the Joint statement of 8 September 2022

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Joint Statement on the 2nd anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 07:06:38 GMT

Joint statement by:

· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on the second anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus

Brussels, 9 August 2022 - "Two years have already passed since the massively falsified presidential election in Belarus. It also two years since the people of Belarus rose up against the dictatorship - they came out to vote in large numbers and then, in view of the massive frauds, hundreds of thousands of them rallied against the regime which stole the election.

It is painful to see that the people of Belarus have been experiencing systematic repression in its worst forms ever since. The regime has continued silencing any critical voices while, externally, Lukashenka has sold large swathes of his own country's sovereignty to his Kremlin sponsors. As a consequence, Belarus is increasingly looking like a Russian military district, acting as an accomplice in the Kremlin's horrendous war of aggression against Ukraine - all this against the will of the Belarusian people. These latest developments illustrate the fact that the fight against Lukashenka's illegitimate, dangerous regime is not only an internal matter for the Belarusians to settle: it is our concern as well, as it poses a clear threat to our entire continent, as illustrated by the last year's state-engineered migration crisis and by the diversion of the Ryanair civil flight which, as the ICAO confirmed, was planned and carried out purposefully by Lukashenka's security apparatus. [...]

The full text of the joint statement of 9 August 2022

General documents - Joint statement by the Chair of the D-BY and the Standing Rapporteur on the ICAO conclusions on the diversion of Ryanair Flight FR4978 - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 08:08:11 GMT

Joint statement by:

· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on the ICAO conclusions on the diversion of Ryanair Flight FR4978

Brussels, 22 July 2022 - "We welcome the conclusions of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization on the incident involving Ryanair Flight FR4978 in the Belarusian airspace on 23 May 2021. Based on the facts outlined by the ICAO's special fact-finding investigation team, the ICAO Council has condemned the Belarusian authorities for committing purposefully an act of unlawful interference.

The ICAO Council acknowledged that the bomb threat against the civil aircraft, which resulted in its interception and forced landing in Minsk airport, was deliberately false and endangered its safety, and furthermore that the alleged threat was communicated to the flight crew upon the direct instructions of senior Belarusian government officials[...]

Joint statement by the Chair of the D-BY and the Standing Rapporteur

General documents - D-BY meeting on 7 July 2022 in Strasbourg - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 15:06:30 GMT

Exchange of views on the further deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus and the possible implications of the constitutional referendum of 27 February 2022, with Dr Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Exchange of views on the persecution of juveniles, with Ms Olga Karach, Director of Our House. Exchange of views on the persecution of independent trade unions and infringements of workers' rights, with Ms Olga Koulaeva, Director, Mr Gocha Aleksandria, Senior Specialist in Workers' Activities and Ms Miranda Fajerman, Senior Specialist in International Labour Standards at the International Labour Organization's Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Presentation of the 'European Choice' civic initiative by its co-founders, Ms Volha Pavuk and Ms Katsiaryna Shmatsina.

General documents - DROI Subcommittee meeting of 15 June 2022, in association with the D-BY - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 13:28:06 GMT

Follow-up to the European Parliament resolution on the coordination of the various mechanisms established for the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine, in the presence of Mr Geoffrey Robertson QC, Barrister and the first President of the War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone (2002-2007). Mr Jonathan Agar, Special Assistant to the Prosecutor, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court; Ms Myroslava Krasnoborova, Liaison Prosecutor for Ukraine at Eurojust; and Mr Anton Korynevych, Ambassador-at-large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

General documents - DROI Subcommittee meeting of 10 May 2022, in association with the D-BY - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 13:27:09 GMT

Exchange of views on the human rights situation in Belarus with Ms Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus, and Ms Eugenia Andreyuk, Human Rights Adviser for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Turkey, OMCT.

General documents - EP resolution on the prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Fri, 20 May 2022 10:54:22 GMT

The text adopted was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA and ECR groups.

After organising a sham referendum reinstating the country's nuclear status, the illegitimate regime has allowed Russian troops and weapons to move through Belarus' territory, use its airspace, refuel and store military ammunition to attack Ukraine. Lukashenka's regime is jointly responsible for this aggression: consequently, all EU sanctions issued against Russia must be strictly mirrored for Belarus.

The Members condemn the recent arrest and detention of trade union leaders and representatives by the Belarusian authorities, and call for their immediate and unconditional release.

The recent changes made to the Belarusian Criminal Code, introducing the death penalty for 'attempted acts of terrorism', can easily be used by the regime to silence its opponents.

The EU must strengthen its cooperation with Belarussian democratic forces, including through regular summits and robust financial aid

The text of the EP resolution

General documents - D-BY meeting on 5 May 2022 in Strasbourg - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Wed, 11 May 2022 12:20:42 GMT

Exchange of views on the security implications, for Belarus, of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, with H.E. Dirk Schuebel, Head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, Mr Franak Viačorka, Chief Political Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Mr András Rácz, Associate Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and Dr Ben Schreer, Executive Director at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS-Europe).

General documents - Joint Statement by the Chair of the D-BY and the EP Standing Rapporteur on the persecution of trade unions in Belarus - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:17:45 GMT

Joint statement by:

the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Juozas OLEKAS, and
the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

on the persecution of trade unions' leaders and representatives in Belarus

Brussels, 22 April 2022 - "We strongly condemn the latest crackdown on independent trade unions in Belarus, which has led to the arrest and detention of at least fourteen of their leaders and representatives in the past hours, including Aliaksandr Yarashuk, president of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP); Siarhei Antusevich, its vice-president; Aliaksandr Bukhvostau, president of Free Trade Union of Metal Workers (SPM); and Mikalaj Sharakh, president of Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB).

Although the accusations levelled against them have not been publicly disclosed yet, their arrest, as well as the search of their offices by KGB agents, occurred shortly after the Belarusian regime branded independent unions as 'extremist' organisations.

These latest, outrageous developments demonstrate once again that all-out repression continues unabated in Belarus, as also illustrated by the recent arrest and detention of the editor of the independent Novy Chas newspaper, Aksana Kolb. [...]

The Full Text of the Joint Statement of 22 April 2022

General documents - D-BY meeting on 7 April 2022 in Strasbourg - Delegation for relations with Belarus

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 07:24:20 GMT

Exchange of views on the perception of Russia's aggression against Ukraine by the population and democratic forces of Belarus, and its impact on the Belarusian exilés in Ukraine, with Mr Valery Kavaleuski, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Representative for Foreign Affairs, Dr Asya Kudlenko, Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kent, and Mr Jaroslav Likhachevskiy, Co-founder of the Belarus Solidarity Foundation (BYSOL).Exchange of views on the latest EU sanctions on Aliaksandr Lukashenka's regime and their implementation, with Ms Sandra De Waele, Head of Division for Sanctions Policy at the European External Action Service, and Ms Kristina Jankovich, Team Leader for Sanctions Enforcement in the Unit for Sanctions at European Commission's DG FISMA.