MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Belarus

10.5.2011

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Helmut Scholz on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

B7‑0332/2011

European Parliament resolution on Belarus

The European Parliament,

–         having regard to the report the report of Human Rights Watch "Shattering Hopes: Post-Election Crackdown in Belarus"

–         having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas a large number of opposition figures, including former presidential candidates, journalists and human rights defenders, were arrested after the events of 19 December 2010 in Minsk and have remained imprisoned since than; whereas acts of repression and politically motivated trials against opposition figures and human rights defenders continue to this day; whereas there are twelve prisoners of consciences in Belarus - presidential candidates: Mykalau Statkevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu and Andrei Sannikau; journalists: Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, Iryna Khalip and opposition activists: Pavel Sevyarynets Uladzimir Kobets, Zmitser Bandarenka, Syargei Martseleu, Zmitser Dashkevich, Eduard; Lobau,

 

B.  whereas the planned presentation of the report on 4th May was prevented by officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus; whereas human rights defenders from different OSCE countries were again detained in Minsk, in the office of “Viasna” Human Rights Center ahead of a press-conference where the Interim Report on events of 19th December, 2010 in Minsk, produced by the Special Rapporteur of Committee of International Control, was to be presented, whereas two representatives of the International Observation Mission were told to leave the country in 24 hours and are banned from entering Belarus for two years;

C.  whereas Vasily Yuzepchuk and Andrei Zhuk were executed in March 2010, approximately two months after their clemency applications had been turned down; whereas the execution was carried out despite the fact that both men had applied to the UN Human Rights Committee, and on 12 October 2009 the Committee had made a request to the government not to execute the two men until it had considered their cases.; whereas three new death sentences have been handed down,

1.  condemns the continued detention, trials and sentencing on political grounds of civil society representatives and opposition leaders, including former presidential candidates, in the context of the elections of 19 December 2010;

2.  demands that the Belarusian authorities immediately and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all those detained on political grounds;

3.  is gravely concerned over allegations of ill-treatment, intimidation and court irregularities and even torture; urges Belarusian authorities to cooperate fully with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council mechanisms in this regard; calls for an independent medical expert to visit all detainees to ensure they are receiving adequate medical assistance;

4.  condemns all harassment, arrests and intimidation of representatives of the Belarusian independent media as well as violations of the fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the media;

5.  reminds the Belarusian authorities that the existence and unhindered political action of democratic political parties and of a strong, independent and lively civil society is of vital importance for the proper functioning of any democratic state; therefore calls on the Belarusian authorities to guarantee the unity of political and social human rights;

6.  reminds Belarus that, as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), it has an obligation to prevent torture and other ill-treatment and to ensure that all such allegations are promptly, independently and effectively investigated and that those reasonably suspected of having perpetrated torture and other ill-treatment are brought to justice in accordance with fair trial standards;

7.  underlines the importance of an objective and impartial assessment of the events which took place in Minsk on December 19, 2010, including protest actions on Independence Square, violent dispersal of the crowd by the police and ensuing arrests and detentions, from the perspective of their compliance with international norms and national legislation of Belarus on freedom of peaceful assembly is of utmost importance for the ease of the political tensions in Belarus; takes the view that the report prepared by an independent expert group led by Dr. Neil Jarman, the Special Rapporteur of the Committee on International Control, over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus constitutes a valuable contribution to this end; calls on the authorities of Belarus to allow the public presentation of the report;

8.  deeply deplores decision of Belarusian government not to renew the mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk and asks the authorities to review this decision;

9.  calls on the authorities of Belarus to accept the long time pending requests and facilitate the visits of the Special Rapporteur on  freedom of expression, the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on torture;

10.  urgently calls on President Lukashenka to establish an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty, in line with UN General Assembly resolution 63/168, adopted on 18 December 2008;

11.  takes the view that Belarus needs a public national dialogue with all the democratic political forces on the future of the country and democratic reforms without interference from outside;

12.  notes that the EU policy vis-à-vis Belarus has failed and that the sanctions and isolations of the country lead to ever more violations of human rights and democratic freedoms; urgently calls for a review of the current policy; insists on measures to promote civil society contacts, in particular student exchanges;

13.  takes the view that the different political course of the EU and Russia as influential countries in the countries' neighbourhood is counterproductive for the development in Belarus; calls on the HR/VP of the Commission Catherine Ashton to discuss with her counterpart in Russia about a cooperative approach towards the common neighbourhood, including Belarus;

14.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Belarus Parliament and authorities, the Member States, the Commission and the Council, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the government and Parliament of Russia.