Council of Europe: democratic Belarus to contribute to continent’s security

June 20, BPN. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has said that democracy in Belarus would contribute to European security, whereas now it is a “prison” without human rights.

PACE said in a resolution that it was deeply concerned about the fate of thousands who had to flee the country for political reasons after the 2020 presidential election.

It called on member states to design legal instruments that would allow Belarusian émigrés to stay in Europe lawfully. It also suggested giving their relatives multiple-entry Schengen visas.

European banks should be encouraged to distinguish between Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime and its opponents, Council of Europe lawmakers said. Overall, measures introduced against the regime should not affect those fighting against it, they argued.

Lawmakers debated the resolution after Luxembourg’s politician Paul Galles presented a report on exiled Belarusians and opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja delivered a speech.