Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is concerned at recent developments in Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33698/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland and the EU attach considerable importance to the management of our complex relationship with Russia and to developments within that country. It is discussed regularly at EU level including at the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 June. Relations with Russia will also form part of the discussions at the European Council taking place on 24/25 June, where An Taoiseach and his counterparts will discuss the EU's approach to the strategic relationship with our largest neighbour. This follows a substantive discussion on this strategic relationship at the European Council on 24 May.

On 16 June, High Representative Josep Borrell presented a Joint Communication on EU-Russia relations. The Communication recognises that the relationship has deteriorated since 2014. There was also clear acknowledgement our policy towards Russia continues to be guided by the following five principles, first agreed in 2016:

1. full implementation of the Minsk peace agreements in relation to the conflict in Ukraine as key to any substantial change in the relationship; 

2. closer ties with Russia’s former Soviet neighbours; 

3. strengthening EU resilience to Russian threats; 

4. selective engagement with Russia where this is clearly in the EU’s interest; 

5. increased support for people-to-people contacts and for Russian civil society as a whole.

Ireland has made our concern about the imprisonment of Alexei Navalny very clear and we continue to call for his release. We have also raised concerns around human rights abuses in Russia and we will continue to do so. 

It is important to remain open to areas where the EU can have constructive engagement with Russia on issues of strategic importance to us, while adhering to the five principles. In this regard, Ireland supports the strengthening of people-to-people contacts, engagement with Russia on global issues of concern, including Climate Security, and continued support to Russian civil society and human rights defenders.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the ongoing developments in Belarus; Ireland’s response to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33696/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Repression in Belarus has intensified since the fraudulent election last year and there has been a further deterioration in the human rights situation in the country with massive crackdowns against political dissidents, human rights defenders, civil society organisations and minorities (including the Polish community).

Ireland believes a strong, coordinated international response is needed to show Belarus, and others, that actions such as the forced diversion of a flight cannot and be taken with impunity.

On 21 June Foreign Ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss the ongoing situation in Belarus and the EU’s response. A fourth package of targeted sanctions against 78 individuals and 8 entities was adopted, targeting those behind the repression, those responsible for the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk and several prominent business figures, who support and benefit from the Lukashenko regime. Ministers have also agreed on sectors to be targeted by the economic sanctions and work is underway to implement that agreement.  

By these actions we are sending a strong signal to those supporting this regime - their continuous support for Lukashenko comes at a substantial cost. At the same time, Ireland and the EU stand ready to support a peaceful, democratic transition. This is why the European Commission has prepared a very ambitious comprehensive plan of up to €3bn in economic support for a democratic Belarus.

We will continue monitoring closely developments in Belarus and the EU will not shy away from taking further action in the near future including on other economic actors and sectors if the situation in Belarus does not improve.