PACE Demands Rehabilitation Of All Political Prisoners In Belarus

The Belarusian authorities should also release the arrested patriots and stop the construction of the nuclear power plant.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe deplores human rights violations in Belarus and calls on Minsk to suspend the construction of the nuclear power plant. This is stated in the resolution adopted by the PACE on June 27, tut.by reports.

They call on the Government of Belarus to fully rehabilitate and restore civil and political rights of former political prisoners.

The Resolution expresses regret that "a positive trend of greater international openness and dialogue between Belarus and the Assembly has been undermined by the recent escalation of violence and harassment against peaceful protesters in the spring of 2017."

PACE has called for the immediate release of still detained opposition activists and for an investigation into the allegations of ill-treatment and intimidation against them.

PACE also urges the Belarusian authorities to respect and uphold the right of the citizens to freedom of assembly, association and expression, freedom of mass media, to ensure political pluralism, free and fair elections.

Lithuanian deputies initiated the amendment of the resolution with the call for the suspension of the construction of BelNPP due to numerous violations, lack of respect for international standards of nuclear safety and serious security violations and severe incidents during the construction.

Despite the objections of some parliamentarians that this issue does not apply to the sphere of human rights and PACE activities, the amendment was put to the vote and adopted.

The resolution also says that PACE supports the continuation of contacts with the authorities and the independent civil society of Belarus on the basis of the values and democratic standards of the Council of Europe. Belarus calls for an immediate moratorium on the death penalty and not to carry out the already imposed death sentences.

The Resolution says that PACE will support high-level contacts with the authorities and with independent civil society, which will base on the values and democratic standards of the Council of Europe. They call upon Belarus to impose an immediate moratorium on the death penalty and not to execute the already imposed death sentences.

At the same time, it was noted, that "the absence of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty and of substantial, tangible and verifiable progress in terms of respect for the democratic values and principles upheld by the Council of Europe, the Assembly is not in a position to call on its Bureau to lift the suspension of the special guest status for the Parliament of Belarus."