These days one can observe an increase in authoritarian developments all around the world. We look with concern at the persecution of journalists, the imprisonment of political opposition leaders, (attempted) coup d`ètats and human rights violations. They happen in different parts of the world and Europe is no exception.

The IIP has been closely following the protest movement in Belarus which erupted after the fraudulent presidential elections in August 2020. In continuity with our efforts to promote democracy and human rights all over the world and in the EU Neighborhood, we publish this statement below to mark six months of the fight against authoritarianism in Belarus.

Since 9 August 2020 the Belarusian people have taken to the streets to demand free and fair elections in their country. Despite mass detentions, unfair fines, unlawful arrests, and physical and sexual violence in prisons against the demonstrators, Belarusians did not stop expressing their dissent with the authoritarian regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Five persons have died as a result of the security forces crackdown, including Aliaksandr Taraikouski who was shot with rubber bullets during the protests, and Raman Bandarenka who was beaten up to death in the courtyard of his house by the government loyalists. Belarusian opposition leaders are now either in exile or in jail. Independent human rights organizations currently recognize over two hundred Belarusians as political prisoners. Overall, more than thirty thousand citizens have been unlawfully detained for their participation in protests in the last six months.

February 7th marks the Day of Solidarity with Belarus. On this occasion, the International Institute for Peace expresses its support and admiration to Belarusians struggling for justice and freedom in their country. We express our condolences to the friends and families of victims of the state repressions, as well as victims of the covid-19 virus, many of whom could have survived the disease if politics had not interfered with healthcare. We applaud doctors, students, teachers and university lectures, pensioners, business owners, workers on strike, and all others who did not succumb to the physical, political, and psychological pressure of the regime.

We call on the international community and particularly the EU and its member states to put pressure on the Belarusian authorities at all possible levels, demanding them to stop violence against the Belarusian people and hold free and fair elections. Moreover, we call on all EU citizens to take action. Every citizen can help by signing a petition, donating to support the unjustly arrested, fired and fined, and by spreading the information about the political crisis in Belarus.

Upcoming events on Belarus:

February 16 | Online discussion: Political crisis in Bealrus as Seen from Brussels and Moscow. Register here

The IIP’s recent activities on Belarus: