European Parliament Adopts Tough Resolution on Belarus

Brussels was called to immediately introduce a new package of sanctions, as well as to actively use the principle of universal jurisdiction.

Members of the European Parliament approved a resolution on the situation in Belarus. 506 deputies voted for, 29 - against. 139 people abstained.

In the resolution, the European Parliament recalls that the EU does not recognize the results of the 2020 presidential elections, condemns repression, including against the media and human rights defenders, and calls for an inclusive dialogue.

The European Parliament condemns the instrumentalization of migrants to achieve its political goals by the regime, calls the hijacking and forced landing of the Ryanair plane an act of state terrorism, condemns the agreements between Lukashenka and Putin on the preparation of roadmaps for integration.

MEPs support the proposal of the European Commission to suspend some clauses of the agreement on simplifying the visa regime between Belarus and the EU for certain categories of officials, call on the EU Council to adopt the fifth package of sanctions and start developing the next package, as well as to strengthen the existing sanctions, in particular, in relation to potash and the oil sectors, state and private companies that support and finance the Lukashenka regime.

The European Parliament also calls on the EU member states to recognize the KGB as persona non grata in the EU, to recall their ambassadors from Minsk for consultations, calls on international organizations, including the IMF, to limit cooperation and the issuance of funds to the Lukashenka regime.

MEPs urge the EU member states to actively use the principle of universal jurisdiction and prepare criminal cases against perpetrators of repression, emphasize the importance of investigating the crimes of the regime against the Belarusian people, and await the results of the investigation by the Ukrainian authorities into the death of Vitaly Shishov.