MEPs call on the Lukashenko regime to release all political prisoners
- 21.05.2026, 14:44
The European Parliament praises the courage and resilience of Belarusian civil society.
Małgorzata Gosiewska, Chair on behalf of the Bureau of the EP Delegation for Relations with Belarus, along with her deputies Tomas Tobé and Michał Kobosko, as well as the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Belarus, Helmut Brandstätter, issued a joint statement on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners of Belarus. Charter97.org publishes the statement in full:
“On the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus, we pay tribute to the memory of all those who have fallen victim to persecution, imprisonment, and death at the hands of the Belarusian regime. This date commemorates Witold Ashuraк, who died in detention on 21 May 2021. Since 2020, when the Lukashenka regime intensified its repression against political opponents and other dissenting voices, at least nine political prisoners have died in Belarusian prisons.
Today, we express our unwavering solidarity with more than 800 political prisoners and all those persecuted on political grounds who remain behind bars in Belarus. While the recent release of a number of detainees constitutes a positive and welcome development that brings relief to many families, it does not reflect a systemic change in the regime's repressive policies. Politically motivated arrests, prosecutions and convictions continue on a daily basis.
We therefore reiterate European Parliament's call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners held by the Belarusian regime, as well as for an end to the unlawful and reprehensible practice of forced expulsion of political prisoners and former detainees from their own country. Every Belarusian citizen must be guaranteed the fundamental right to live in freedom and security in their own homeland.
We further call for an end to all politically motivated criminal proceedings and for a full amnesty for all those convicted on such grounds, including guarantees enabling the safe and dignified return of those forced into exile. These steps must be irreversible and grounded in genuine respect for human rights, democratic freedoms, and the rule of law, as well as in a credible willingness to engage in dialogue with independent democratic actors and to support the foundations of a democratic transition in Belarus.
This day also serves as a reminder of former political prisoners and stories that must neither be forgotten nor silenced. In April 2026, Andrzej Poczobut, journalist, representative of the Polish minority in Belarus, and laureate of the 2025 Sakharov Prize, was released from a penal colony. His testimony, like that of many other former political prisoners, exposes the inhumane conditions and systematic ill-treatment prevalent in detention facilities under the Lukashenka regime, including beatings, humiliation, degrading and dehumanising treatment, prolonged isolation, psychological pressure, and denial of medical care.
We strongly condemn these acts and call on the Lukashenka regime to immediately cease such practices. We support the firm and principled position of the European Union and call for the continuation and strengthening of international pressure until the full and unconditional release of all political prisoners is achieved and all forms of political repression are brought to an end.
On this Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, we further call for the full rehabilitation of all former political prisoners and reiterate our expectation that those forced into exile will one day be able to return safely to a free and democratic Belarus. The Belarusian people have the inalienable right to live in freedom in their own country, to determine their future democratically, and to participate fully in the construction of a state based on freedom, political pluralism, justice, and respect for human dignity.
A democratic and independent Belarus, for which courageous Belarusians rose up in 2020 and for which so many continue to suffer, remains a key prerequisite for long-term stability and security in the region and across Europe.
We also wish to acknowledge the courage, resilience, and steadfast commitment of Belarusian civil society. We commend the efforts of the EU Victims Facility, the International Humanitarian Fund, and other European instruments supporting victims of political persecution. Despite sustained authoritarian repression and persistent attempts at intimidation, countless individuals and organisations continue to resist injustice and uphold the values of freedom and human dignity.
In particular, we express our deep appreciation for the tireless work of the Viasna Human Rights Centre in supporting political prisoners and their families. Founded 30 years ago by Ales Bialiatski, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former prisoner of conscience, the organisation has become a symbol of resilience and hope. "Viasna" ("Spring") embodies the expectation that, despite systemic repression and ongoing political pressure, democratic change remains possible and a better future for Belarus will ultimately prevail.
We express our profound appreciation to the United States for its efforts, which have contributed to the release of a significant number of political prisoners. At the same time, we underline that international pressure on the Lukashenka regime must be sustained and intensified until the full and unconditional release of all Belarusian political prisoners is achieved and a complete moratorium on political repression is established.
Жыве Беларусь! Long Live Belarus!