The European Parliament requests the introduction of sanctions against Belarus

The European Parliament today called for the adoption of new sanctions against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko due to the repression of the opposition in Belarus and Minsk's support for the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine.

In the resolution, which was adopted by a large majority (557 for, 25 against, 40 abstentions), MEPs call on the EU to "expand and strengthen" sanctions against those responsible for the repression of the Belarusian opposition, and in particular recommend sanctioning judges, prosecutors, members of the police and prison officials.

By resolution, MEPs condemn the Lukashenko regime's desire to "silence independent voices and suppress freedom of expression" with new punishments such as those imposed in early March on activist Aleš Byjatski, one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, as well as journalist Andrzej Pocobut.

Both are imprisoned in Belarus.

MEPs express regret that Belarus is not included in the tenth set of European sanctions against Russia.

The EU has specifically sanctioned several Iranian companies accused of supplying drones to Moscow.

The resolution calls on EU countries to issue "emergency visas" to human rights defenders in Belarus to allow them to leave the country, and calls on member states to pressure the International Olympic Committee to reverse its decision to allow Belarusian athletes to participate in the Olympics. games in Paris in 2024 because "it goes against the multiple isolation of Belarus and will be used by the regime for propaganda purposes".