MEPs to discuss the political crisis and popular uprising in Belarus
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4. September 2020 In Aktuell, EN

MEPs to discuss the political crisis and popular uprising in Belarus

MEPs in the Subcommittee on Human Rights will debate the human rights situation in Belarus following the disputed presidential elections of 9 August and subsequent demonstrations, on Monday.

Belarus has been in the midst of a political crisis following accusations of vote rigging in the presidential elections held on 9 August, which incumbent authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed he won with a vast majority, triggering massive popular uprisings and general strikes.

Since then, the Belarusian authorities have been cracking down hard on demonstrators calling for Mr Lukashenko’s resignation, with many reports and documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of detainees and protesters being brought forward.

MEPs in the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and the delegation for relations with Belarus will discuss (remotely) the very tense situation in the country with invited experts on Monday. They will also debate the historic momentum the recent developments have presented, with a view to the possibility for a political transition and change in Belarus.

The invited experts, who are also members of the new Belarusian opposition body “the Coordination Council”, are the following:

  • Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Centre VIASNA,
  • Alexander Yarashuk, President of the Belarussian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions,
  • Anton Trafimovich, RFERL Belarus service, member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, and
  • Alana Gebremariam, Coordinator of the Youth bloc, Belarusian Students’ Association (TBC).

The meeting agenda can be found here.

WHEN: Monday, 7 September at 11.30 – 12.30 CET.

WHERE: European Parliament in Brussels, József Antall building (6Q2) & remote participation.

You can watch the meeting live here (07.09.2020). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists are strongly advised to follow the meeting online.