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PACE expresses dismay at «unprecedented wave of violence and persecution» in Belarus

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed dismay at the "unprecedented wave of violence and persecution” that followed the announcement of the results of Belarus’ December 14-19 presidential election, and called on the country’s authorities to “release immediately” all former candidates, journalists and human rights activists, BelaPAN said.

As a result of an emergency debate held on January 27, the Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a transparent investigation into “the abusive and disproportionate use of force” by riot police against participants of the election-night protest in downtown Minsk. They urged the authorities to stop expelling students from universities and dismissing people from their workplace for their participation in the demonstration.

The Belarusian authorities should put an end to all acts of harassment and intimidation, PACE said.

In view of the “current additional serious setbacks”, the Assembly reaffirmed its decision to put on hold its activities involving high-level contacts with the Belarusian authorities. It called on the PACE Bureau not to lift the suspension of Special Guest status for the Belarusian National Assembly until a moratorium on the execution of the death penalty has been declared and until there is "substantial, tangible and verifiable progress" in terms of respect for the democratic values and principles upheld by the Council of Europe.

Ninety members of the Assembly voted for the resolution and nine members against. Three members abstained.

The Assembly said that any sanctions relating to contacts with those responsible for the post-election crackdown should not lead to “further isolation of the Belarusian people” but called on member states to sign up to the European Union’s possible sanctions against the country’s senior officials. It pledged to strengthen dialogue with pro-democratic groups in the country, civil society, independent media outlets and human rights activists.

The Assembly called on the government of Belarus to reconsider its decision to close the OSCE office in Minsk, and complete the reform of electoral regulations by taking into account recommendations by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission).

It also urged the authorities to investigate the disappearances of Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasowski and Dzmitry Zavadski, who disappeared in 1999 and 2000.

“The Assembly is also convinced of the usefulness of smart sanctions targeting those personally responsible for the most flagrant acts of repression, provided they are inflicted following a fair and transparent procedure," the resolution reads. "It therefore invites all Council of Europe member states, including those which are not members of the European Union, to join the European Union’s targeted sanctions against Belarusian officials."

PACE called on member states of the Council of Europe to consider facilitating the granting of visas to ordinary Belarusian citizens, as well as to consider the possibility of establishing temporary safe havens for persecuted political opponents, human rights defenders and media workers.

It also urged them to “explicitly refrain” from recognizing the official results of the presidential election in Belarus.