With today’s adoption of a resolution, the European Parliament has taken a clear stance against violent oppression in Belarus. For the ECR Group, the EU should uphold its united stance against the Lukashenka regime and clearly distinguish aggressors from victims. Speaking in the European Parliament’s plenary chamber on Tuesday, ECR Foreign Affairs coordinator Anna Fotyga and ECR MEP Witold Waszczykowski, Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, set out the lines of the ECR Group.
Ms Fotyga said that there was an agreement between China and Russia to keep Alexandr Lukashenka in power: “In the case of Russia, we can even see incitement to the brutal suppression of Belarusian society.” According to the MEP, Belarus has developed into a battlefield in Russia’s hybrid war campaign against Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Ms Fotyga also asked for an end of the repression and a release of all political prisoners, including Angelika Borys and Andrzej Poczobut.
Ms Fotyga stated:
“In the event of a hybrid war, the EU must stop being naive and clearly perceive aggressors and distinguish them from victims. The activity of Lukashenka is a crime that should be condemned in the international arena. We cannot allow that, even in this chamber, some traces of misunderstanding would arise.”
Mr Waszczykowski added:
“It is not enough to ban flights for officials or impose limited sanctions, it is also necessary to implement a policy of non-recognition of Lukashenka, and instead grant opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya a special status in the EU.
“We also need tougher sanctions that will affect Belarus’ policy. Let us remember that Belarus produces, for example fertilizers, which are exported to Europe. We should also suspend cooperation in various institutions, in culture and in sports.”
Mr Waszczykowski also stressed the need for a serious debate at the UN Security Council and an investigation by the International Criminal Court.