Polish MPs Demand Sanctions Against Lukashenka's Regime

The Commission on Foreign Affairs and the Commission on Relations with Poles Abroad have made a statement in the Polish Sejm.

The Commission for Foreign Affairs and the Commission for Relations with Poles Abroad made a statement in the Polish Sejm yesterday. The joint session heard the report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the situation of Poles in Belarus, in view of the actions of the authorities with regard to the Union of Poles.

The Joint Commissions assessed with concern the events in Belarus in recent months. The report draws attention to the escalation of repressions against the society, including Poles living for generations in Belarus.

The document lists:

- The arrest on trumped-up charges of Hanna Panishava, head of the forum of local initiatives of Brest and Brest region, as well as people from the leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus: chairman Anzhalika Borys and members of the UPB leadership - Andrzej Poczobut, Maryja Tsishkouskaya and Iryna Bernatskaya;

- The closing of the Polish school named after Romuald Traugutta in Brest, as well as a number of searches and seizures of equipment in educational institutions belonging to the Union of Poles in Belarus in Hrodna, Lida and Vaukavysk.

The authors of the document point out that the regime authorities of Belarus are aimed at escalating enmity between the Polish and Belarusian peoples.

"It is announced that the institutions involved in the Polish language courses in Belarus will be reconsidered and re-registered. Under these conditions, our compatriots in Belarus may be practically deprived of the right to education in their native language and access to their native culture - which is a standard of European law and the rights of national minorities, and which also violates the agreement between Poland and the Republic of Belarus on Good Neighborhood and Friendly Cooperation of 23 June 1992, in particular, Articles 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this treaty."

The work of diplomatic and consular institutions of Poland in Belarus has been virtually paralyzed, the document says. As a result of unilateral decisions of Lukashenko's regime, 35 out of 50 Polish consuls and diplomats have recently been forced to leave their jobs.

Members of both commissions demand the immediate release of detainees and an end to repression. Also, the deputies stand for activating the long-term policy of supporting the Poles living in Belarus and for introducing assistance programs for repressed compatriots.

"The Joint Commissions for Relations with Poles Abroad and Foreign Affairs ask for sanctions against persons (together with their relatives) from the government who are involved and directly participate in the repression of Poles in Belarus. First of all, we ask to ban them from entering the territory of the Republic of Poland, as well as the territory of the European Union".