Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives her introductory remark on the situation of political prisoners in Belarus at the beginning of the plenary session (15-18 January 2024) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

EU - Belarus (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

Human rights (T2)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

Resumption of session and order of business: introductory remark by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the situation of the political prisoners in Belarus

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear colleagues, in the spirit of defending freedom, I need to refer again to what is happening in Belarus, still controlled by Europe's last dictator. Activists, innocent people are still being detained arbitrarily. The number of political prisoners continues to grow and we cannot allow it to fall off the top of our agenda. This is why I met with Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya last week and promised to do what we can to support political prisoners and urge their release.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, 'And for those reasons, I have agreed to join their campaign and become a so-called godparent of Polina Sharonda Panasiuk, a mother and activist sentenced in 2021. And then in 2022 by Lukashenko's regime to four years in prison on trumped up charges. Polina has been beaten, placed in the punishment cell, refused medicines and access to her family or a lawyer. I appeal to all of you who have not yet done so is to join the campaign and consider adding your voice too.