Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue that is sometimes easy to forget in circumstances where we have so many problems to deal with in this country, particularly with Covid. I refer to the aftermath of the fraudulent presidential election that took place in Belarus last August and the violence and protests that took place after it. Perhaps it is easy for us to move on in this country and forget that many political prisoners are still in jails in Minsk and throughout Belarus as a result of the protests. They are held not because of real crimes but for raising their voices against Lukashenko, his government and the fact that Belarus has been an authoritarian state for the past number of years.

On 27 November, Mr. Lukashenko indicated he would step down as soon as a new constitution came into effect but there is no timeline for when this is likely to happen. The last dictator in Europe, as he is often referred to, continues to rule over Belarus with the authoritarian trademark in which he has so much pride. His rule has been called into question by the European Union, the US State Department and governments throughout the European Union.

I want to bring to the attention of the House a campaign being led by Libereco, a German NGO, and co-ordinated by Viasna in Belarus, that calls on parliamentarians to call out the names of specific political prisoners being held in Belarus. I want to bring the attention of the House to the name of Maksim Pauliushchyk, a young man who was arrested and is in prison, not for any serious crime but merely for painting on a footpath the words "we will not forget" near the site of where one of the first protesters in the post-presidential riots was shot dead. If that is not legitimate protest, I do not know what is. This man is now in jail. I call officially for his release and I ask the Leader if she will facilitate a debate on the issue. I have raised it here a number of times and I have also raised it as a Commencement matter. The House and the country need to continue to keep the pressure on Mr. Lukashenko, his fraudulent government and the appalling situation in Belarus.