Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union said about the parliamentary and local elections in Belarus. The ever-increasing and unprecedented level of repression, human rights violations, and restrictions on political participation and access to independent media by the Lukashenka regime have severely undermined the legitimacy of the electoral process. In this context, it is clear that the conditions for holding free and fair elections have not been met and that the new parliamentary and local officials lack democratic legitimacy. This came in a statement issued in Brussels by the office of Josep Borrell, the European Foreign Policy Office, regarding the elections that took place last Sunday.
The statement also said, “The European Union regrets that the Belarusian authorities did not invite an OSCE/ODHIR election observation mission, which is contrary to Belarus’s international obligations. This further demonstrates the lack of transparency in the electoral process.” and failure to ensure its adherence to international electoral standards.
The European Union continues to support the democratic right of the Belarusian people to elect their representatives through genuine, democratic and transparent elections. We urge the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and their effective rehabilitation.
The European Union praises and supports the efforts of the democratic forces and civil society in Belarus. The determination of the Belarusian people, who continue to defend democracy, at great personal risk, is an important factor of hope.