European Parliament to discuss human rights situation in Belarus on May 12

On May 12 the European parliament is to discuss the situation with human rights, democracy and rule of law in Belarus.

As informed by the press-service of the European Parliament, the debate is to take place in the framework of the parliamentary session in Strasbourg on May 9-12. Following the results of the discussion, MEPs are to adopt a resolution.

We remind that on Jauary 20 the European parliament adopted a resolution condemning the cruel repressions in Belarus on the day of the presidential election, and called upon the Council of European Union to carry out an independent investigation under the auspices of the OSCE.

The European Parliament has also called upon the leadership of the EU to immediately impose sanctions against Belarusian officials who had been involved in the crackdown during the presidential campaign. The sanctions should be in force until the unconditional release of all political prisoners.

At the same time the European Parliament has called upon the Council of the European Union to facilitate the visa receiving procedure for Belarusian citizens, to increase support of the civil society and independent media.

MEPs have also called upon boycotting major sporting events at the territory of Belarus, in particular the world ice hockey championship in 2014.

On March 10 one more resolution of the European Parliament was adopted. It denounces use of tortures against persons arrested in the criminal case opened on ‘mass riots’ in Minsk on December 19.

Members of the European Parliament strongly condemned “the climate of fear and intimidation” faced by political opponents in Belarus, by the civil society and mass media: searches in editorial offices, flats of journalists and NGO activists, expulsions from universities and discharges from work on political grounds. The European Parliament also called upon creation of conditions for free exchange of opinions and freedom of mass media in Belarus.