Belarus, Brussels, 27 January 2025
We, the representatives of the Belarusian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, strongly condemn the so-called presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus held on 26 January 2025.
The electoral process in the Republic of Belarus took place in violation of international norms, under conditions of total terror by security forces, in the absence of real separation of powers, independent press, independent judiciary, and real political competition.
Under electoral slogans of fighting against internal and external “enemies” (corruption, sabotage, “external interference”), the suppression of any opposition or independent activity continues in Belarus.
Political repressions, persecution of civil activists, independent media, and opposition figures make it impossible to consider these elections legitimate and fair. The process of forming electoral commissions is non-transparent and fully controlled by the executive branch.
The current conditions exclude transparency in the election process and make it impossible to conduct truly democratic, competitive elections, rendering their results illegitimate.
Under the current conditions, where an independent election observation is impossible, the electoral process in Belarus remains not compliant with the international commitments made by Belarus on democratic standards and requires international attention.
Echoing the European Parliament urgent resolution on Belarus of 22 January 2025, calling on the EU and the international community to address the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus, we reiterate our unconditional support to the people of Belarus in their demands of democratic pluralism and right to freely choose their political representatives, and call on the EU, its Member States and the international community to:
- Unequivocally condemn these illegitimate elections, not recognising their results and the self-proclaimed president Lukashenka,
- Condemn Lukashenka’s systematic repressions against peaceful citizens and continued intensified crackdown on civil society and independent media,
- Continue providing staunch political support to the Belarusian Democratic Forces and civil society organisations, independent media and human rights defenders in the country and in exile, including supporting their efforts for the formulation of a clear roadmap for the political transformation of the country,
- Continue putting pressure on Belarusian authorities to unconditionally release the over 1,300 political prisoners, invest in programmes that sustain their recovery and rehabilitation, and to support their families,
- Redouble efforts to step up their commitment to the build-up of democracy in Belarus and restore democratic procedures in the country,
- Ensure that necessary sanctions to the regime do not isolate people, by investing in more ties and opportunities for youth, in particular. While sanctions on Belarus are important to fight circumvention of existing sanctions against Russia, we must avoid the building of a new iron curtain and the further isolation of Belarusian people,
- Hold Lukashenka’s regime accountable for its human rights violations and Belarus’ role in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The international community’s support to Belarusian civil society and democratic forces is crucial, but these actions alone will not suffice in the long term if not supported by an actual strategy for the political transformation of the country. Lukashenka is consolidating Belarus’ totalitarianism, isolationism and supporting Russia. The development of a concrete and comprehensive strategy for the democratisation of the country can no longer be postponed.
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and its Belarusian National Platform confirm their readiness to continue supporting democratic changes and civil society in Belarus.
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