The ALDE Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemns the crackdown on peaceful protests and expresses solidarity with the people of Belarus who demand free and fair elections.
In the current situation, where there is clearly no confidence in the results of the presidential poll, we call for repeat elections in Belarus, this time in full respect of democratic electoral standards and duly observed by the OSCE-ODIHR, OSCE PA and PACE. In the meantime, the authorities of Belarus should release all political prisoners and detained protesters, refrain from further violence and fully investigate all cases of police abuse.
It has been too long that the voice of Belarusians has been ignored and disrespected by the authorities. Belarus is part of the European family, but its political regime based on violence, lies and rejection of pluralism is not.
Other relevant statements by ALDE-PACE members:
André Gattolin (France, Rapporteur on “Ending enforced disappearances on the territory of the Council of Europe”)
2.09.2020 Belarus: PACE rapporteur is outraged that Dmitry Pavlichenko is back on the street
Rik Daems (Belgium, President of PACE)
