Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021
290. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community continues to assist in the fight against political and human rights abuses in Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34220/21]
View answerIreland stands in solidarity with the Belarusian people in their dignified and staunch defence of their democratic and human rights. The international community have repeatedly expressed their strong concerns regarding the ongoing repression of the Belarusian people by the Lukashenko regime across a range of international fora. Along with our EU and like-minded international partners, we will continue to ensure that international attention remains focused on the appalling human rights situation in Belarus.
Despite repeated calls from the international community, the Belarusian authorities have shown no willingness to investigate violations of human rights in their own country and have permitted the security forces to act with impunity. Ireland and the EU have been clear that impunity breeds violence and we have taken a number of concrete steps to bring international accountability.
Ireland has made our deep concern at the situation in Belarus clear in UN Security Council discussions on the matter. Ireland worked constructively to ensure the successful adoption of an EU-led resolution at the Human Rights Council that expanded the mandate of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the over two thousand reported cases of human rights violations in Belarus. The High Commissioner’s team have begun their work, which will be complemented by the NGO-led International Accountability Platform for Belarus and investigations in EU Member States under the concept of Universal Jurisdiction.
We regret that the Belarusian authorities continue to deny the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus access to the country in her official capacity. Until she is given the opportunity to complete her important work, we will continue to support the renewal of her mandate, including during the ongoing forty-seventh session of the Human Rights Council. We will also continue to call on the regime to implement the recommendations of OSCE expert investigator, Professor Wolfgang Benedek, which are outlined in his November 2020 Moscow Mechanism Report.
Sanctions also play a role in bringing international accountability and as a signal of solidarity with the Belarusian people. I and my fellow EU foreign ministers agreed a fourth package of targeted sanctions during the 21 June Foreign Affairs Council, bringing the total number of those sanctioned to one hundred and sixty-six individuals, including Lukashenko himself, and fifteen economic entities. Those targeted include those responsible for the ongoing repression, the coercive forced landing of the Ryanair aircraft on 23 May, the falsification of the August 2020 Presidential election result in Belarus, and those supporting or profiting from the Lukashenko regime.
The EU is working on operationalising carefully calibrated economic sanctions that target the wallets of the regime. This is one of the concrete measures agreed by EU leaders at the European Council on 24 May, in response to the flagrant disregard for international law and human rights shown by the Belarusian authorities. Ireland is playing a constructive role and we remain open to considering further measures at a later stage.
Ireland and our EU partners continue to support the Belarusian people as best we can by redirecting EU funding away from the regime and towards civil society. Member States have also coordinated on efforts taken at national level to provide support. For our part, Ireland contributed national funds to two projects through the European Endowment for Democracy that seek to protect the human rights and media freedoms of the Belarusian people. In a further signal of support, on 28 May the EU Commission announced a €3 billion economic support package for a future democratic Belarus.
Our focus remains on pressing the Lukashenko regime to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Belarusian people, to adhere to their international commitments, and to engage in a meaningful national dialogue that leads to fresh elections that are free and fair. That is what we will continue to do.
