Ukraine Joins EU Demand To Release Belarusian Political Prisoners

• 10.07.2025, 10:26

A total of 12 European countries have already supported the statement.

The EU delegation to the Council of Europe (CoE) called for the "immediate and unconditional" release of political prisoners in Belarus, their rehabilitation and an end to repression on July 9 at the 1534th meeting of the CoE Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg (France).

The statement, circulated on behalf of all EU states, was joined by 12 countries: Albania, Andorra, the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Northern Macedonia, Ukraine and the UK, reports "Pozirk".

The statement welcomed the release of Sergei Tikhanovsky and 13 other political prisoners thanks to U.S. involvement.

"Nevertheless, large-scale politically motivated persecution in Belarus continues. According to data collected by independent human rights activists, nearly 1,200 political prisoners are still unjustly detained in the country. Reports of appalling conditions of detention, isolation from families and lawyers, ill-treatment and torture, lack of access to basic medical services are alarming," the statement says.

It is emphasized that the EU "remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus and strongly condemns the ongoing campaigns of harassment and intimidation of all segments of Belarusian society, including human rights defenders, journalists, independent trade unionists, civil society representatives and persons belonging to the national minority.