Joint Statement to European Governments ahead of the European Council Summit

Following the violent crackdown on protestors after the allegedly fraudulent elections of 9 August in Belarus, the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), of which elbarlament is a member, issued a statement regarding the situation in the country ahead of the European Council Summit on Belarus, which took place on 19 August 2020.

The statement, which was signed by elbarlament and other EPD members, called on EU Member States and EU institutions to (1) support democratic processes in the country; (2) condemn the human rights violations and support processes that ensure the accountability for these violations; (3) call for the release and rehabilitation of all those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly among other human rights; (4) call for free and fair elections in Belarus in accordance with international standards and with the presence of international observers; (5) apply targeted sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes to those individuals responsible for fraud in the 9 August election and the repression which followed; (6) offer protection for those individuals facing persecution through the provision of free Schengen visas and/ or temporary humanitarian visas; and lastly, (7) provide flexible and speedy funding to the Belarusian civil society.

The entire joint statement can be viewed here.