Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
667. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he can undertake to raise awareness through the European Union of the plight of a person (details supplied) who has been beaten while being illegally detained in Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2207/22]
View answerThe Belarusian regime’s persecution of political activists and peaceful protestors is an affront to democracy and to the rule of law. I am aware of the specific case the Deputy is referring to.
Ireland has repeated called on the Belarusian regime to release all political prisoners and engage in dialogue with the opposition. Ireland has taken a number of actions at EU level and elsewhere to persuade the Belarusian regime to change its behaviour.
Minister Byrne and I have repeatedly raised the plight of Belarusian civil society at the Human Rights Council, at the UN Security Council, and at a variety of other EU and multilateral meetings. We have called for the implementation of a report by the OSCE’s expert investigator, Professor Wolfgang Benedek. We have supported a mandate extension for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate human rights violations in Belarus.
Ireland has been a strong supporter of EU restrictive measures against Lukashenko’s regime, associated individuals and commercial entities and co-sponsored the most recent packages of sanctions on Belarus.
We also continue to engage with the Belarusian opposition Coordination Council, and to demonstrate to the Belarusian people that their voices have been heard. I know many members of this House met with Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya during her visit to Ireland last year when she also met with myself and the Taoiseach.
Ireland will continue to take a strong stance on the issue of Belarus and push for the restoration of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, especially those suffering as a result of the regime’s actions .
