That this House condemns the imprisonment for twelve years of Belarusian journalists Maryna Zolatava and Liudmila Chekina by the Lukashenka regime on politically-motivated charges; further condemns that the two have been added to the Lukashenka regime’s list of extremists, meaning they will be banned from taking on any public role in Belarus and the police will be able to follow them when they are released from prison; emphasises that their cases are part of the wider crackdown launched by the Belarusian authorities following the fraudulent presidential election in August 2020, with over thirty journalists currently behind bars in Belarus, making the country the fourth largest jailer of journalists in the world; supports the campaign by Reporters Without Borders, who are collecting messages of support for Maryna Zolatava to be delivered to the Belarusian Embassies in several countries, including the UK, on her birthday on 6 November; and calls on the Lukashenka regime to release Maryna Zolatava and all other political prisoners in Belarus.

That this House condemns the imprisonment for twelve years of Belarusian journalists Maryna Zolatava and Liudmila Chekina by the Lukashenka regime on politically-motivated charges; further condemns that the two have been added to the Lukashenka regime’s list of extremists, meaning they will be banned from taking on any public role...

That this House condemns the actions of the Belarusian authorities in detaining academics, scholars and students; notes deep concern over the detention of individuals such as Maryja Robokov and Yahor Kanetski who were arrested for their involvement in peaceful protests following the 2020 Presidential Elections as part of widespread calls for free and fair elections in Belarus; expresses concern that the Belarusian authorities are clamping down on opposition and dissenting voices, most notably those in academic institutions who are opposed to the current regime; calls on the UK Government to go further in their condemnation of the Belarusian Government, and advocate for the immediate and unconditional release of Maryja Robokov, Yahor Kanetski, and other detained students; and further calls on the UK Government to create a safe humanitarian channel for those released from Belarusian detention, or in danger from reprisals, to access humanitarian visas in order to flee further persecution in Belarus.

That this House condemns the actions of the Belarusian authorities in detaining academics, scholars and students; notes deep concern over the detention of individuals such as Maryja Robokov and Yahor Kanetski who were arrested for their involvement in peaceful protests following the 2020 Presidential Elections as part of widespread calls...

That this House believes there to be 570 political prisoners in Belarus; notes the credible reports of prisoners facing extreme violence, torture, and sexual assault; welcomes the decision by several honourable Members and Noble Lords to act as godparents to Belarusian political prisoners; is aware that the Noble Lord Foulkes has adopted Stepan Latipov, the honourable Member for Rochdale has adopted Darya Chultsova, the honourable Member for North East Fife has adopted Pavel Drozd, the honourable Member for Blaenau Gwent has adopted Dzianis Zhuk, the honourable Member for Edinburgh West has adopted Andrei Aliaksandrau, the honourable Member for Hornsey and Wood Green has adopted Mark Antonau, the honourable Member for West Lancashire has adopted Aliaksandr Drazdou, the honourable Member for Luton South has adopted Anton Lakishyk, the honourable Member for Kingston and Surbiton has adopted Aliaksei Ramanau, the honourable Member for Gower has adopted Kanstantsin Svidunovich, the Noble Lord Russell has adopted Ruslan Akostka, the Noble Baroness Crawley has adopted Dzmitry Zherbutovich, the Noble Baroness Smith has adopted Ryhor Hunko, the Noble Lord Griffiths has adopted Mikita Zalatarou, the Noble Baroness Massey has adopted Andrei Szauczuk, the Noble Baroness Kennedy has adopted Mikita Yemialyianau; encourages other honourable Members and Noble Lords to adopt Belarusian political prisoners; and calls upon the Lukashenka regime to look again at this outrageous and outmoded practice in modern-day Europe of holding political prisoners and to release them urgently.

That this House believes there to be 570 political prisoners in Belarus; notes the credible reports of prisoners facing extreme violence, torture, and sexual assault; welcomes the decision by several honourable Members and Noble Lords to act as godparents to Belarusian political prisoners; is aware that the Noble Lord Foulkes...