Resolution 2530 (2024)1Provisional version

A democratic future for Belarus

Parliamentary Assembly

1. The Parliamentary Assembly reaffirms its dedication to supporting and advocating for the rights,freedoms, and safety of all Belarusians. It stands in solidarity with all those whose lives have been affected bythe crimes of the Lukashenka regime and reiterates its ambition to welcome a future democratic, independent,sovereign, peaceful and prosperous Belarus as a member of the Council of Europe.

2. The Assembly commends the outstanding progress achieved by the Belarusian democratic forces inexile, under the leadership of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, in co-ordinating and channelling their efforts touphold the rights of all Belarusians and bring about a democratic change in Belarus. It acknowledges andsupports the European aspirations declared by Ms Tsikhanouskaya and the Belarusian democratic forces. Itwelcomes the creation of the United Transitional Cabinet, the central executive body of the democraticmovement, together with the Coordination Council, a unified representative body of Belarusian democraticsociety, as entities representing the legitimate democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus.

3. In the run-up to and following the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections, the state of human rights,democracy, and the rule of law further deteriorated in Belarus. The already negative trend intensified followingthe Lukashenka regime’s participation in the Russian Federation’s large-scale aggression against Ukraine, amost serious violation of international law which has led the Assembly to suspend all relations with theBelarusian authorities on the basis of its Opinion 300 (2022) “Consequences of the Russian Federation'saggression against Ukraine”. The regime’s decision to be an accomplice of the Kremlin in this aggressionstands in stark contrast with the engagement of many Belarusians in support of Ukraine.

4. The peaceful expression of dissent by the Belarusian population has been met by brutal repressionresulting in an unprecedented number of politically motivated arrests, detentions, and widespread intimidationof opposition figures, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. Longer prison sentences have beenhanded down, and legislation has been introduced to expand the definition of terrorist acts, which arepunishable with a capital sentence. Torture and ill-treatment in detention have been reported. Recalling thatAles Bialiatski and Maria Kalesnikava were awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize for theirindomitable struggle and personal sacrifice for the promotion of democracy and human rights in Belarus, theAssembly expresses its deep concern for the fate of all political prisoners in Belarus and conveys its fullsupport to their families.

5. In a situation where freedoms of speech, assembly and association are curtailed, opposition politicalparties are liquidated and their leaders persecuted, freedom of the media is not respected, and there is noredress against these violations, and where no credible domestic or international election observation isallowed, there cannot be free and fair elections. The Assembly, therefore, expresses its serious concerns asregards the parliamentary elections to be held by the Lukashenka regime in February 2024, fearing that theywill be yet another travesty of democracy, allowing the authorities to perpetuate their grip on power despite thereal will of the Belarusian people.

1. Assembly debate on 25 January 2024 (6th sitting) (see Doc. 15892 and addendum, report of the Committee onPolitical Affairs and Democracy, rapporteur: Mr Kimmo Kiljunen; and oral opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs andHuman Rights, rapporteur: Mr Emanuelis Zingeris). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 January 2024 (6th sitting).

See also Recommendation 2266 (2024).

28 DE FEVEREIRO DE 2024 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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