European Parliament calls to freeze Lukashenka’s assets abroad to use them to support victims of repression in Belarus
On 5 April, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a human rights resolution on Belarus, calling for an immediate end to the political repression of Lukashenka’s regime, the surveillance of demonstrators, and the release of political prisoners. They also condemned how Belarusians abroad are increasingly becoming the target of repression by the regime, and called for EU-wide legal support for exiled individuals.
Parliament reiterated that it did not recognise Lukashenka as the country’s leader and considered the persecution of Belarusian citizens abroad to be a direct violation of member states’ territorial sovereignty.
MEPs advocated for the swift development and enforcement of a legal mechanism to freeze and confiscate the assets and properties owned by Lukashenka and his inner circle abroad, in order to reallocate them to support victims of repression.
MEPs urged the immediate imposition of personal sanctions on officials responsible for transnational persecution and intimidation, including members of the Belarusian Investigative Committee.
They also called for increased support for Belarusian independent media, human rights defenders, and civil society initiatives.
The resolution was adopted by 535 votes in favour, 19 against and 55 abstentions.
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