Release of all political prisoners is an essential condition for EU-Belarus relations

The European Parliament has adopted its Recommendation on the EU’s policy towards Belarus reiterating the need for the unconditional release of all political prisoners.

This condition is a prerequisite for a gradual lifting of EU sanctions and for an upgrade of relations between the European Union and Belarus, humanrightshouse.org reports.

"The release of all political prisoners is a condition sine qua non for unlocking EU-Belarus relations. The human rights situation in Belarus remains, in general, very worrying therefore we, in the European People's Party (EPP) Group, managed to streamline the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights throughout the whole Report. We also emphasised that civil society should participate on an equal footing with the authorities in the Dialogue for Modernisation and people-to-people contact should also be facilitated by the simplification of visa procedures and, in the longer term, with the possibility to have visa-free travel for Belarusian people“, said Jacek Protasiewicz, member of the European Parliament, EPP Group Shadow Rapporteur.

“As long as political prisoners are not released, a moratorium on the use of the death penalty will not be established and free and fair elections will not take place, which means no improvement in terms of human rights in Belarus”, added Filip Kaczmarek MEP, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Belarus.

Both stressed that any resumption of the dialogue between the EU and Minsk should be under strict conditions and depend on progress in the fields of human rights, civil freedoms and democracy. The same conditions should also apply to the recent decision of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers on suspending the EU visa ban on the chief of Belarusian diplomacy Uladzimir Makei.

Let us recall that on 24 June the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Luxembourg suspended the EU’s entry ban against Uladzimir Makei. Sanctions are suspended for the period as he holds the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. However, Mackey remains in the list of citizens of Belarus who are subject to financial sanctions (accounts and property of these persons should be frozen within the EU).

The statement of the meeting says: "In order to facilitate diplomatic contacts between the EU and Belarus, the Council today suspended the EU travel ban on Uladzimir Makei, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs."

“By granting Mr Makei the right to travel on its territory, the EU is confirming its offer of assistance and advice to Belarus. I truly hope that the Belarusian authorities will seize this unique opportunity, with the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU and the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November, to start a concrete and solid dialogue with the EU on democratic reforms, respect of the rule of law, human rights and basic freedoms”, concluded Jacek Protasiewicz. 

Uladzimir Makei does not change his position

The European Union`s sanctions against Belarus are an "absolutely abnormal phenomenon" and should be abolished. This was said by Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makei at the press-conference in Moscow on 10 July.

"We have always called for dialogue and any proposals that might contribute to the development of this dialogue with our European partners," said Mr. Makei. "We intend to maintain close relations with all of our neighbours, with all countries that are ready to meet us halfway."

"We believe that if the EU is interested in having dialogue with Belarus, it should be an equal dialogue without blackmail and ultimatums".

Let us also recall that as many as 241 Belarusan citizens, including Aliaksandr Lukashenka, are currently subject to travel bans and 242 persons plus 30 business entities are subject to asset freezes within the EU.