The European Parliament: "Elections held in a climate of fear and repression cannot be considered fair"
The European Parliament reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and independence of Belarus and the democratic right of the people of Belarus to choose their representatives in free and fair elections, the European Parliament said in a statement on October 29, reports DW Belarus.
The European Parliament reminds that after the rigged elections in 2020, the situation in Belarus deteriorated significantly: tens of thousands of people were arrested, there are now more than 1,300 political prisoners in the country, including opposition leaders, and tens of thousands of Belarusians were forced to leave the country. The statement once again condemns the systematic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights in Belarus.
"We emphasize that in the current climate of fear and repression, in conditions that contradict all internationally recognized standards, without the opportunity for Belarusians living abroad to exercise their right to vote and run as candidates in elections, without a transparent vote counting system, and without the participation of international observers, elections cannot be considered fair and free," the statement says.
Therefore, the European Parliament calls on the regime in Belarus to fully respect human rights and the right to freedom of association, including for political parties, to put an end to all forms of repression, persecution, and intimidation, and release all political prisoners.