Crimes of Lukashenko Against Belarusians in Europe. European Parliament Resolution
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 16
In light of the ongoing mass political persecution by the Lukashenko regime, particularly targeting Belarusians abroad who participate in legal demonstrations in EU countries, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management Pavel Latushka appealed to Member of the European Parliament Michał Kobosko — Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Belarus — with a request for a possible response from the European representative body to the cross-border crimes committed by the Lukashenko regime.
MEP Michał Kobosko initiated the adoption of an urgent resolution by the European Parliament concerning the immediate risk of further repressions by the Lukashenko regime in Belarus — namely, threats coming from the Investigative Committee.
"During the march on March 23, 2025 in Warsaw and in the days that followed, Belarusians who took part in demonstrations abroad approached me with a request to draw the attention of European politicians to the crimes being committed by the Lukashenko regime against Belarusians living in EU countries: criminal cases, trials in absentia (so-called 'special proceedings'), blackmail, threats, persecution of relatives in Belarus by the regime's security services, property confiscation and more".
"In response to these crimes, NAM also launched an information campaign to raise awareness among Western media and politicians about the regime’s cross-border crimes".
"It is important to note that as a result, concrete proposals prepared by NAM were included in the final draft of the resolution. These also reflect the voices of Belarusians who reached out to us after facing persecution by the Lukashenko regime. This is a good example of a swift reaction by the EU's representative body to an unprecedented situation", noted Pavel Latushka.
In its resolution, the European Parliament "considers the persecution of Belarusian citizens for their peaceful democratic activities abroad through 'special proceedings' by the Investigative Committee as a direct violation of the territorial sovereignty of EU Member States" and "calls for pan-European legal support and protection for Belarusians in exile", including those who cannot renew their identity documents and are subjected to extraterritorial persecution.
The European Parliament also "calls on the International Criminal Court to expedite proceedings concerning crimes against humanity committed by the Lukashenko regime".
In addition, the document contains a call to impose "additional sanctions similar to those applied to Russia, particularly against officials responsible for transnational repression".
The European Parliament also insists on the need to strengthen "political, financial and technical support for independent media, human rights defenders and civil society initiatives".
"I am grateful to the Members of the European Parliament and personally to MEP Michał Kobosko for their principled stance and concrete action in response to the new repressions of the Lukashenko regime. This is a message to the dictator: crimes against Belarusians abroad will not go unpunished. It is necessary to increase pressure, expand sanctions and push for concrete measures to stop the terror against Belarusians both inside Belarus and beyond its borders", stated Pavel Latushka.
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