TALLINN, Estonia (AP) 鈥 The European Union and the United States on Friday marked the fourth anniversary of massive protests in Belarus by calling for the release of all political prisoners and voicing support for the Belarusian people.
The t both at home and abroad, gave Belarusian President his sixth term in office. The disputed balloting touched off in Belarus in its post-Soviet history.
In a statement marking the anniversary, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell emphasized that 鈥渢he EU remains united in its support to the brave people of Belarus, the Belarusian democratic movement, and civil society in their quest for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus as part of a peaceful Europe.鈥
Lukashenko's government responded to the protests with a brutal crackdown, in which over 35,000 people were arrested and thousands were beaten. Many opposition figures were convicted and given long prison terms, while others fled abroad.
The Viasna human rights group estimates that Belarus now has about 1,400 political prisoners, including the group's founder and . Viasna said on Friday that 65,000 people have faced arrests since the start of the protests.
鈥淚n the four years since the start of the 2020 election campaign, repression in Belarus has not stopped; on the contrary, the situation has critically worsened,鈥 Viasna said. 鈥淓very day, arbitrary detentions continue across the country. Searches, smartphone checks, mistreatment after arrest, terrible conditions in prisons, beatings, and torture have become a daily reality for Belarusians.鈥
The U.S. Embassy in Belarus called for immediate release of political prisoners and voiced 鈥渟upport the Belarusian people and their democratic aspirations."
Lukashenko, who this year , has survived the protests thanks to staunch support from Moscow. He allowed Russian troops to use Belarus鈥 territory to invade Ukraine in 2022 and let Moscow deploy some tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Friday announced new sanctions against 19 Belarusian individuals and 14 entities 鈥渋nvolved in supporting Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine through military resource production and transshipment of goods to Russia, sanctions evasion on behalf of Belarusian defense entities, and revenue generation for Belarusian oligarchs.鈥
It noted that the move, along with the sanctions introduced this week by the EU, Canada and Britain, 鈥渟ignal the international community鈥檚 continuing solidarity with the Belarusian people in their struggle for a free, democratic, and sovereign Belarus.鈥
Borrell urged for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus and noted that the EU on Monday adopted additional sanctions against 28 Belarusian officials accused of human rights violations, politically motivated trials, and state propaganda activities.
He also said the EU will provide support of up to 3 billion euros (about $3.3 billion) to stabilize Belarus鈥 economy and reform its institutions 鈥渙nce Belarus embarks on a democratic transition.鈥
