European Parliament denounces upcoming sham presidential election in Belarus

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, the European Parliament called on the EU to reject the upcoming presidential election in Belarus on 26 January as a sham.

Denouncing the ongoing and long-standing grave violations of human rights and democratic principles in Belarus, further intensified in the run-up to the so-called presidential election, Parliament asked the EU, its member states and the international community not to recognise the legitimacy of incumbent dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka, ruling the country since 1994, as president after the vote.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) noted that, unlike in 2020, there are only pro forma ‘candidates’ to challenge Lukashenka in this month’s election and reiterated their non-recognition of Lukashenka as President.

MEPs also expressed their unwavering support for the Belarusian people, paying special attention to the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, of which there are over 1,200, according to the Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna. 

The resolution calls on the EU and its member states to continue investigating human rights abuses in the country and to support accountability measures. MEPs also denounced the Lukashenka regime’s complicity in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and condemned its deliberate subordination of Belarus to Russia in a so-called union state. They urged the EU and its international partners to broaden and strengthen sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for the repression in Belarus and for Belarus’ participation in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The resolution was adopted by 567 votes in favour, 25 against with 66 abstentions.

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