The continuous repression of the people of Belarus
On Wednesday, Parliament will vote on a resolution expected to strongly condemn the latest crackdown on opposition voices and journalists in Belarus.
On 3 March, a court in Minsk found 2020 Sakharov Prize and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Viasna human rights centre, guilty of ‘smuggling’ and ‘grossly violating public order,’ sentenced him to ten years in a penal colony and charged him with a heavy fine. Several of his colleagues were also handed long-term prison sentences at the same time, a decision which leading MEPs have strongly condemned and described as a further travesty of justice by the brutal and authoritarian regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
The resolution is also expected to address the case of Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who was recently sentenced to eight years in prison for, amongst other things, encouraging actions with the aim of harming the national security of Belarus.
MEPs already debated the alarming situation in the country during the plenary session on Thursday 16 February. You can watch the debate again here.
Debate: Thursday 16 February
Vote: Wednesday, 15 March
Procedure: Non-legislative resolution