European Parliament adopts resolution on Belarus, MPs call for return of sanctions
BelarusFeed
11 April 2017, 23:49
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the situation in Belarus, in which it denounced “repressions prior to and during the rally of 25 March” and called the actions of Belarusian security services “indiscriminate and inappropriate”.
European MPs also called on the authorities to abolish Decree No 3 and release and drop all judicial charges against all peaceful protesters. The voting on the resolution was preceeded by debates, during which some MPs mentioned the possible return of sanctions against Belarus.
Besides criticism of the violent crackdown on Freedom Day rally, the resolution mentions the police raid to the office of the Human Rights Centre ‘Viasna’ in Minsk, detentions of passers-by who did not take part in the protests, preventive arrests of politicians, human rights defenders and activists, detentions of journalists who were covering the protests, searches in Belsat TV office.
The document also says that Belarus remains the only European country to still apply death penalty, while Belarus-Russia ‘Zapad 2017’ joint military manoeuvres cover scenarios involving attacks on western neighbours.
With regard to all the latest events, European politicians have called on the Belarusian authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release and drop all judicial charges against all peaceful protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists and opposition members who have been detained in connection with the current wave of demonstrations”.
They’ve also urged the authorities to disclose information about all those arrested to their families and the wider public and impartially investigate into all allegations of arbitrary detention and other violations of the rights of protesters in connection with the recent demonstrations.
Other recommendations included the repeal of Decree No3 as a “harsh and morally questionable measure” that violates international human rights and affects more than 470 000 Belarusians.
The adoption of the resolution was preceded by a debate on the situation in Belarus. During the debates some European parlimentarians voiced the opinions about the return of sanctions and suspension of the recently approved financial assistance of the European Union to Belarus.
“The honeymoon’s over”, they said.
11 April 2017, 23:49
Photo: TUT.BY
European MPs also called on the authorities to abolish Decree No 3 and release and drop all judicial charges against all peaceful protesters. The voting on the resolution was preceeded by debates, during which some MPs mentioned the possible return of sanctions against Belarus.
Besides criticism of the violent crackdown on Freedom Day rally, the resolution mentions the police raid to the office of the Human Rights Centre ‘Viasna’ in Minsk, detentions of passers-by who did not take part in the protests, preventive arrests of politicians, human rights defenders and activists, detentions of journalists who were covering the protests, searches in Belsat TV office.
The document also says that Belarus remains the only European country to still apply death penalty, while Belarus-Russia ‘Zapad 2017’ joint military manoeuvres cover scenarios involving attacks on western neighbours.
With regard to all the latest events, European politicians have called on the Belarusian authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release and drop all judicial charges against all peaceful protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists and opposition members who have been detained in connection with the current wave of demonstrations”.
They’ve also urged the authorities to disclose information about all those arrested to their families and the wider public and impartially investigate into all allegations of arbitrary detention and other violations of the rights of protesters in connection with the recent demonstrations.
Other recommendations included the repeal of Decree No3 as a “harsh and morally questionable measure” that violates international human rights and affects more than 470 000 Belarusians.
The adoption of the resolution was preceded by a debate on the situation in Belarus. During the debates some European parlimentarians voiced the opinions about the return of sanctions and suspension of the recently approved financial assistance of the European Union to Belarus.
“The honeymoon’s over”, they said.
