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

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), the MEPs debate the Oral question on the safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus). MEPs debate 2/2

Safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus) - Oral question: MEPs debate 2/2

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), the MEPs debate the Oral question on the safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus). MEPs debate 1/2

Safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus) - Oral question: MEPs debate 1/2

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), the MEPs debate the Oral question on the safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus). Closing session by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

Safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus) - Oral question: Closing session by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), the MEPs debate the Oral question on the safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus). Opening session by Author and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus) - Oral question: Opening statements by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), author and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

In 2020, The UK Withdrawal Agreement was approved by the European Parliament and the EP followed closely the work of the EU negotiator Michel Barnier. MEPs criticised the role of Turkey in the Easter Mediterranean and called for an international investigation into the Navalny case. The Parliament's 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded to the democratic opposition in Belarus.

European Parliament review 2020: EU relations in the world

David SASSOLI, EP President, Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA and Veranika TSAPKALA, Belarusian Democratic Opposition and laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020, speak to the press in the European Parliament in Brussels. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President, Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA and Veranika TSAPKALA, Belarusian Democratic Opposition and laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020

In the framework of the award ceremony of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Maria ADAMOVIC, Tatiana KHOMICH, Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Siarhei DYLEUSKI, Veranika TSAPKALA, Volha KAVALKOVA, Ales BIALIATSKI, and Stsiapan PUTSILA, representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition, laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with the representatives of the Belarusian Democratic Opposition, laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020: roundtable

Award ceremony of the 2020 Sakharov Prize during the plenary session (14-18/12) of the European Parliament, mainly in Brussels. The democratic opposition in Belarus is awarded in a ceremony in the European Parliament, in Brussels. David SASSOLI, EP President, makes the opening statement followed by the statement by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian Democratic Opposition. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2020: opening statements by David SASSOLI, EP President, and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian Democratic Opposition

Award ceremony of the 2020 Sakharov Prize during the plenary session (14-18/12) of the European Parliament, mainly in Brussels. The democratic opposition in Belarus is awarded in a ceremony in the European Parliament, in Brussels. Award Ceremony with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Veranika TSAPKALA, Siarhei DYLEUSKI, Ales BIALIATSKI, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Maria ADAMOVIC, wife of Mikola STATKEVICH, Tatiana KHOMICH - sister of Maryia KALESNIKAVA, Volha KAVALKOVA and remotely Svetlana ALEXIEVICH

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2020: Ceremony with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Veranika TSAPKALA, Siarhei DYLEUSKI, Ales BIALIATSKI, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Maria ADAMOVIC, Tatiana KHOMICH, Volha KAVALKOVA and, remotely, Svetlana ALEXIEVICH

Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureate of Sakharov Prize 2020 makes a statement in the European Parliament in Brussels on the meaning of the Sakharov Prize for Belorussian people and her fight for new elections. The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by several laureates,receives the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Statement by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarusian Democratic Opposition leader, laureate of the Sakharov Prize 2020

Statements by Veronika TSAPKALA, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Tatiana KHOMICH, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by several laureates including opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will be awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Sakharov Prize 2020: statements by Veronika TSEPKALA, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Tatiana KHOMICH, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureates

Recording of the Videomessage by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of Belarus opposition, ahead of the award ceremony during the plenary session of the European Parliament (14-17 December 2020).

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020: Videomessage by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of Belarus opposition, ahead of the award ceremony

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), David SASSOLI, EP President, announces that the 2020 Sakharov Prize is the Democratic opposition in Belarus. After the announcement, David SASSOLI, EP President, pays tribute to Arnauld Joaquín Morazán Erazo, part of the Guapinol environemental group who has been assassinated last week. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Announcement by David SASSOLI, EP President: the Democratic Opposition in Belarus, Sakharov Prize 2020

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), MEPs debate the Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the HRVP on the relations with Belarus. Opening statements by Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew,LT), rapporteur and by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Plenary session: Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the HRVP on relations with Belarus. Opening statements by Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (RE, LT), rapporteur and Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, Vice-President of the European Commission

During the plenary session (19-23 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the VPC/HR on relations with Belarus.

Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the VPC/HR on relations with Belarus: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), MEPs debate the Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the HRVP on the relations with Belarus. Closing statements byJosep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World and by Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT), rapporteur.

Plenary session: Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the HRVP on the relations with Belarus. Closing statements by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, Vice-President of the Commission and by Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (RE, LT), rapporteur

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), MEPs debate the Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the HRVP on the relations with Belarus. MEPs debate

Plenary session: Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the HRVP on the relations with Belarus. MEPs debate

Socialist leaders meet ahead of the European Council, at the Sofitel Hotel in Brussels. Statements by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy and Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), S&D Group Leader. Round table and view of the participants.

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