Since October 2020, the EU has&nbsp;progressively imposed restrictive measures&nbsp;against Belarus in response to the fraudulent nature&nbsp; presidential elections in&nbsp;2020, and the&nbsp;intimidation and violent repression&nbsp;of peaceful protesters, opposition members and journalists.&nbsp;

The democratic opposition, including the opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was awarded the&nbsp;2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The Belarusian regime has became an ally&nbsp;with Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine. This includes the so-called referendum reinstating the country’s nuclear status, but also that Belarus has allowed Russian troops and weapons to move through its territory, use its airspace, refuel and store military ammunition.

Therefore, the EU has extended the sanctios package against Russia to Belarus. The EP has recently called that "all EU sanctions issued against Russia must be strictly mirrored for Belarus and implemented appropriately".

EU - Belarus

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE). A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in December at the plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

The nominations for the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought are:

The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by the Coordination Council, initiative of brave women and political and civil society figures, nominated by EPP, S&amp;D, Renew Europe 
Mgr Najeeb Moussa Michaeel, Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq nominated by ID 
Guapinol activists and Berta Caceres in Honduras, nominated by Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL 
The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by Sviatlana Tsikhanouska, nominated by ECR 
Polish LGBTI activists Jakub Gawron, Paulina Pajak, Paweł Preneta and Kamil Maczuga, founders of the website Atlas of Hate, nominated by Malin Björk, Terry Reintke, Marc Angel, Rasmus Andresen and 39 other MEPs.

The democratic opposition in Belarus has been awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Democratic Opposition in Belarus, Sakharov Prize 2020

Over the past years, there has been some progress in EU-Belarus relations.

The bilateral relationship will be strengthened through the EU-Belarus Partnership Priorities, which are currently being negotiated. This will set the strategic framework for cooperation in the coming years. Tangible steps taken by Belarus to respect universal freedoms, the rule of law, and human rights, including the freedoms of speech, expression and of media, and labour rights, will remain fundamental criteria for shaping the EU’s policy towards Belarus.

On 9 August 2020, presidential elections took place in the Republic of Belarus. Credible reports from domestic observers show that the process did not meet the international standards expected of a participating state of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).

EU - Belarus (2019-2020)

On 24 and 25 May, EU leaders met physically in Brussels to discuss the most pressing issues.

On 24 May leaders discussed the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk and subsequent arrest of anti-government activist and journalist Roman Protasevich. EU leaders invited Council to adopt further sanctions and necessary measures to ban overflight of EU airspace by Belarusian airlines and prevent access to EU airports of flights operated by such airlines. They also called on all EU-based carriers to avoid overflight of Belarus. Leaders also had the state of play of the coordination of the EU's response to COVID-19 on the agenda. They held a strategic debate on Russia and discussed the EU's relations with the UK, following the entry into force of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement on 1 May 2021.

Special European Council, 24-25 May 2021

Event in the European Parliament to support to Belarusian political prisoners in the presence of EP President Roberta METSOLA

Event in the European Parliament to support to Belarusian political prisoners

EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition

High-Level Conference - Standing with the People of Belarus

Strasbourg's Plenary session through the lens . Week 11.

Signature Ceremony #EPstandsBYyou - Friends of Democratic Belarus

Members of the EP Conference of Presidents meet with  Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition forces

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with the guests of  the International Women's Day

EP Plenary session - Need for targeted support to EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition

EP Plenary session - The need for actions to address the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Delegation for relations with Belarus Constitutive meeting

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144)

FEMM Committee - Situation of Women in Belarus

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting- Address by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled Belarusian opposition leader

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, exiled Belarusian opposition leader

Othmar KARAS meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, exiled Belarusian opposition leader

EP Plenary session.- Relations with Belarus

EP Plenary session - The further repressions against the people of Belarus, in particular the cases of Andrzej Poczobut and Ales Bialiatski

Support to Belarusian political prisoners - #EPStandsBYyou #DemocraticBelarus

The visit by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, comes amid Russia’s continued war against Ukraine, an increased Russian nuclear threat to Europe exacerbated by the Minsk regime’s hosting of tactical nuclear weapons under Moscow’s command, and the recent arrival of mercenary Wagner Group fighters on Belarusian territory. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addresses MEPs in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg. Address by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting: Address by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition

The visit by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, comes amid Russia’s continued war against Ukraine, an increased Russian nuclear threat to Europe exacerbated by the Minsk regime’s hosting of tactical nuclear weapons under Moscow’s command, and the recent arrival of mercenary Wagner Group fighters on Belarusian territory. Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, gives a statement in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Parliament holds urgent debates on human rights issues such as democracy, media freedom and rule of law. Belarus: the inhumane treatment and hospitalisation of prominent opposition leader Viktar Babaryka. Closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

The situation in Belarus: the inhumane treatment and hospitalisation of prominent opposition leader Viktar Babaryka

MEPs vote on the following topics: Recommendation to the Council taking stock of the functioning of the EEAS and for a stronger EU in the world - Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), EU/United States Agreement: modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV - Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), The further repressions against the people of Belarus - Motions for resolutions, European Semester for economic policy coordination 2023 - Irene TINAGLI (S&D, IT), European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and social priorities for 2023 - Estrella DURÁ FERRANDIS (S&D, ES), Implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU - Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D, PT), EU-Armenia relations - Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP, BG) and EU-Azerbaijan relations - Željana ZOVKO (EPP, HR).

Voting session, including The further repressions against the people of Belarus and the Implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU

Under the auspices of President Metsola, a booth is set up next to the hemicycle in Strasbourg, where each Member can send an individual letter to one of Belarus’ 1,400 political prisonerssend a letter to a Belarusian political prisoner. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, attends the event and makes a statement.

Support to Belarusian political prisoners - #EPStandsBYyou #DemocraticBelarus: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144). The continuing repression of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus.

The continuing repression of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus

Closing statement of what the MEPs discussed about the role that Belarus has played in supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Closing statement by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on behalf of HRVP Josep BORRELL FONTELLES.

Lukashenko regime's active role in the war against Ukraine: closing statement by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on behalf of HRVP Josep BORRELL FONTELLES

MEPs discuss the role Belarus has played in supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Lukashenko regime's active role in the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 1)

Lukashenko regime's active role in the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs discuss the role Belarus has played in supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Opening statement by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on behalf of HRVP Josep BORRELL FONTELLES.

Lukashenko regime's active role in the war against Ukraine: opening statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on behalf of HRVP Josep BORRELL FONTELLES

The leader of the democratic forces of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will address MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee. She outline her views to the Foreign Affairs Committee on the war in Ukraine and the role of Belarus in the conflict, as well as comment on the latest political situation in Belarus, which is still ruled by an oppressive regime under dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

Exchange of views with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus and Sakharov Prize laureate 2020: extracts - EP AFET Committee in association with the Delegation for relations with Belarus

MEPs debate on the prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus. Closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus: closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

MEPs debate on the prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus.

Prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on the prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus. Opening statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus: opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

The media situation in Belarus has never been easy. Over the years various laws have lessened the rights of independent journalists and imposed limits on both traditional and electronic media. Following the August 2020 presidential election, which ignited a brutal crackdown against the democratic opposition, the situation has worsened. The European Union, and the European Parliament in particular, actively support independent media and civil society in Belarus, and the Council of the EU and the Parliament both address the challenges to media freedom in the country. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely. Dig deeper into the Belarusian media environment in and what the EU does to support press freedom on our blog: https://epthinktank.eu/2022/02/11/media-environment-in-belarus/

EPRS - Media environment in Belarus

Seven members of the Civil Liberties Committee, led by the Chair Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), travelled to Latvia in order to gather first hand impressions regarding the situation of migrants and applicants for international protection at the external EU borders with Belarus. MEPs visits the detention centre of Daugavpils (Latvia).

LIBE delegation to Latvia and Lithuania: visit of the detention Centre of Daugavpils and Silene borders with Belarus (Latvia)

MEPs quiz the Commission and the Council on the proposal to adapt EU asylum rules in Poland, Latvia and Lithuania to deal with migrants coming from Belarus. Closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission and by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus: closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission and by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs

MEPs quiz the Commission and the Council on the proposal to adapt EU asylum rules in Poland, Latvia and Lithuania to deal with migrants coming from Belarus.

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