David McAllister MEP: On the Dictatorship in Belarus
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16. September 2021 In Aktuell, EN

David McAllister MEP: On the Dictatorship in Belarus

15 September 2021

I strongly condemn the human rights violations and brutality of Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. I express my condolences to all those who have lost family members or friends due to the repressions. Lukashenko and his henchmen must be brought to international justice. I demand the immediate and unconditional release of all members of the National Coordination Council from prison, as well as of all those arbitrarily detained before and after the elections. The European Union should to extend the EU sanctions to all individuals responsible for violence, repression and falsification of the election results.

I join all Belarusians in their demand for new, free and fair elections under the supervision of independent international observers of the OSCE. Europe must help all democratic forces in Belarus!

I strongly condemn the Lukashenko regime’s attempts to intimidate Europe by sending hundreds of illegal migrants o Europe’s external borders. This is another part if the hybrid war staged against the EU. The organised smuggling of people in need and their use as human ammo only adds to the crimes perpetrated by the regime. This would not have taken place if our previous responses were more decisive and tougher. The EU also needs to send a clear message to the Kremlin authorities that the continuation of the Kremlin’s support for Lukashenko’s regime also makes the Kremlin responsible for international crimes.

The future of Belarus must be decided by the Belarusian people. A peaceful transition of power is a mammoth undertaking that requires the mobilisation of every individual in Belarus and above all, the unity of the people. The EU has do its utmost to support people who risk their lives for the freedoms that we in the EU take for granted. At the same time, we urge Russia to stop its interference, covert or overt, in Belarus.

I welcome the decision of the EU Member States to start the third package of sanctions. All individuals committing repressions must be held responsible. There is a list of more than 200 names of OMON police and KBG members directly involved in repressions and invite the Council to use this list. A swift adaption of the planned EU Magnitsky Act would allow for the speeding up of the sanctions process.