Summary: September 16, 2004: MEP's condemn Belarus government
Motions for resolutions on the situation in Belarus Doc.: B6-0038/2004, B6-0040/2004, B6-0041/2004, B6-0051/2004, B6-0052/2004, B6-0053/2004 Vote: 16.09.2004
Vote
In a resolution adopted by 499 votes in favour to 20 against with 26 abstentions, MEPs lambasted the Belarus regime of President LUKASHENKO, in particular its "indiscriminate attacks on the media, journalists, members of the opposition, human rights activists (...) as manifested through arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment of detainees, disappearances, politically motivated persecution".
MEPs call for the parliamentary elections of 17 October to be "free, fair, equal, accountable and transparent", and ask the EU Council presidency to allow a delegation from Parliament to monitor these elections. Emphasising the importance of these elections "for the reestablishment of democracy", Parliament urges the people of Belarus to participate. It strongly criticises President Lukashenko's attempts to seek an extension of his presidential term by referendum, contrary to the provisions of the Belarus constitution.
Parliament also calls for the immediate release of Valery Levonevsky, Alexander Vasilyev and Mikhail Larinich and all other imprisoned political opponents of the regime. MEPs emphasise that "the further development of EU relations with Belarus will continue to depend on the progress made towards democratisation and reform in the country".
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