STATEMENT BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S STANDING RAPPORTEUR ON BELARUS, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS on the falsified constitutional referendum in Belarus
Brussels, 3 March 2022 – “Lukashenka initiated the so-called constitutional referendum that took place in Belarus on 27 February 2022, which has no democratic legitimacy as it was held against a background of the continuous and ongoing repression against democratic opposition and civil society. The Lukashenka regime’s claim that 65.2% of citizens who showed up at polling stations voted in favour of the constitutional amendments is absurd and false. The fact that no voting station was open abroad is itself a proof that large-scale fraud took place.
The illegitimate ruler of Belarus Aliaksandr Lukashenka, a proxy of the Kremlin, is becoming increasingly isolated in the international arena, exemplified by Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.
In its resolution on the 1 March 2022 on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the European Parliament condemned in the strongest possible terms the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified military aggression by the Russian Federation against and invasion of Ukraine, as well as the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine.
The international community is outraged by the latest reports that missiles are being fired from Belarusian territory onto military but also civilian targets in Ukraine, and by the fact that Belarus’ non-nuclear status is now jeopardised by the illegitimate and cruel regime. These latest developments illustrate the fact that, once again, Lukashenka is at odds with the will of the Belarusian people, who do not want war with Ukraine – a country with which they have always enjoyed good neighbourly relations.
The Lukashenka regime has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, which will not go unpunished. The European Parliament continues to support the international investigation into the crimes, bringing Lukashenka to justice. Europe stands with the people of Belarus and Ukraine, listening and contributing to their quest for freedom and peace.
Zhyvie Belarus! Slava Ukraini!”
Source – MEP via e-mail