Thursday, May 12, the European Parliament plans to discuss the situation with human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Belarus. The debate will take place within the framework of the European Parliament session, which is held in Strasbourg on May 9 — 12. The MEPs are planned to adopt resolution after the discussion, reported in the European Parliament.
As Telegraf previously reported, two months ago, March 10, MEPs adopted a resolution urging the Belarusian authorities to immediately investigate reports of prisoners’ torture. «Torture is inhuman treatment, strictly prohibited by international law and totally unacceptable in the European country,» the European Parliament stated in its resolution.
MEPs declared about the inadmissibility of intimidation and harassment of opposition activists and independent media, and also condemned «the atmosphere of fear,» created in Belarus. In connection with the situation in the country, MEPs called on the Committee of Ministers of the EU, the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to consider extending the previously introduced visa and economic sanctions on prosecutors and judges, involved in the processes of the Belarusian opposition.
The issue of imposing sanctions on a number of officials from Belarus, «violating human rights,» was raised by MEPs in another resolution, adopted on January 20. Then the European Parliament condemned the harsh repression in Belarus on the day of the presidential election and called on the EU Council to conduct an independent investigation into events of December 19, 2010 under the auspices of the OSCE.
Among other things, MEPs called for boycott of holding major sporting events in Belarus, including the World Hockey Championships planned for 2014.
