EU leaders confirm support for democratic development in Belarus

At their video meeting on 19 August, the members of the European Council expressed their strong support for peaceful democratic development in Belarus. The EU leaders urged the Belarusian government to engage in genuine political dialogue with the opposition in order to deescalate the situation. Prime Minister Sanna Marin represented Finland at the meeting.

“The country’s elections did not meet the international criteria or the criteria of the OSCE and its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), nor can they be considered free or fair. Any new elections should be held in accordance with agreed principles, including international election observation by the OSCE,” said Prime Minister Marin.

In their meeting, the leaders strongly emphasised the EU’s demand to avoid the use of force and respect citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms.

“We must strongly urge the Belarusian authorities to avoid the use of violence and to release the political prisoners arrested during demonstrations and those who were previously imprisoned,” Prime Minister Marin said.

In Finland’s view, the EU is justified in imposing targeted, legally warranted sanctions on those responsible for organising electoral fraud and for perpetrating violence against peaceful demonstrators.

“It is also important to maintain dialogue with Belarus. The EU must strengthen its support for Belarusian civil society, including youth and independent media. The situation must be resolved in a way that respects the will of the Belarusian people,” Prime Minister Marin said.

The European Council also briefly discussed the situations in the eastern Mediterranean region and in Mali.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949 and Matti Niemi, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 45 679 1717, Prime Minister’s Office