On Thursday, Parliament will debate and then vote on the Resolution condemning the continuous violations of human rights in Belarus as well as the murder of Roman Bondarenka. The 31 year-old art teacher died after being in police custody for his opposition to Alexander Lukashenko.
“It is Europe’s duty to take action when human rights are trampled on at our borders. Thousands of Belarusians are risking their freedom and lives. We welcome the decision of the Foreign Affairs Council to extend the sanctions against the regime in Belarus. We call for the establishment of an evidence collection centre to assist the international investigation into the crimes of Lukashenko’s regime against the people. We need to set up a European high level mission to Belarus to help stop the violence, assist in freeing political prisoners and detainees, explore all possibilities to create a conductive environment for a national political dialogue which should result in free and fair elections”, said Sandra Kalniete MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chair.
“I hope President Sassoli will not delay the decision greenlighting the launching of such a mission”, she added.
