Resolution on the deteriorating situation of political prisoners in Belarus, in particular the case of Aliaksandra Pulinovich

The European Parliament adopted by 504 votes to 4, with 55 abstentions, a resolution on the deteriorating situation of political prisoners in Belarus, in particular the case of Aliaksandra Pulinovich.

The text adopted in plenary was adopted by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew, Greens/EFA and The Left groups.

The resolution focuses on the case of Aliaksandra Pulinovich, who was arrested at age 16 in 2024 for anti-war graffiti (‘Black Nightingales’), denied legal and parental support, sentenced to more than 10 years in prison in a closed trial, and labelled a terrorist.

Parliament demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Pulinovich and all political prisoners, their full rehabilitation and the full restoration of their rights. It reiterated its unwavering solidarity with all political prisoners and their families.

The resolution denounced the misuse of anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation to criminalise anti-war expression, youth dissent and solidarity with Ukraine, and to suppress peaceful dissent, including bringing severe charges against young people to intimidate them. It called for the lists of terrorists and extremists to be abolished and urged the Belarusian authorities to comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Furthermore, the Belarusian authorities are urged to end all forms of ill-treatment of political prisoners, incommunicado detention, the denial of medical care and access to lawyers and family, and forced labour, and to investigate deaths in custody and allegations of torture. In this regard, Parliament condemns the systematic misuse of Article 411 of the Criminal Code of Belarus as a tool for political persecution and arbitrary sentence extension and called for its immediate repeal.

The EU, its Member States and international partners are urged to intensify efforts to secure the release of all political prisoners, including summoning the regime’s ambassadors to determine the prisoners’ condition and location, monitoring political prisoners’ cases and granting humanitarian visas, and to provide rehabilitation and practical and financial support. The Council is called on to broaden, strengthen and strictly enforce targeted sanctions against all persons and entities responsible for politically motivated prosecutions, repression and torture.

Lastly, Members called for the EU and its Member States to support the documentation of crimes committed by the Lukashenka regime, including at UN level, and to further accountability through international mechanisms, including Lithuania’s ICC referral and investigations and national proceedings based on extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction.