Declaration on Belarus

Meeting of the SI Council at the United Nations in Geneva, 12-13 December 2014

The Socialist International continues to campaign for the release of political prisoners in Belarus, including Mikalai Statkevich, leader of its member party in that country, the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP-NH). Presidential elections in that country will take place within the next year, yet Statkevich has remained imprisoned since the previous elections in December 2010, almost the entire duration of a presidential term.

The Lukashenko regime continues to disregard human rights, and political freedoms in Belarus and we urge the international community to increase political pressure on the regime to bring change.

In line with its clear message on democracy, delivered from the United Nations in Geneva on 12-13 December 2014, the SI Council calls for:

The release of Mikalai Statkevich and all political prisoners in Belarus, among them opposition leaders and human rights activists.

The establishment of democratic governance in the country in time for the presidential elections in late 2015, and a free and fair electoral process.

 

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