Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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57. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the current situation in Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37941/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland remains extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Belarus.

We are deeply conscious that the people of Belarus have been continually denied access to free and fair elections and a real voice in the governing of their country.

The Lukashenko regime's relentless and unprecedented repression of human rights, restrictions on political participation and access to independent media is intended to stifle opposition voices and shore up its own illegitimate authoritarianism.

I welcome the recent release of several political prisoners, including former Presidential candidate Mr Sergei Tsikhanouski, husband of exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

I share Ms Tsikhanouskaya's grave concerns about the treatment of the estimated 1,160 political prisoners in Belarus and reports of their systemic, habitual and widespread mistreatment. Shockingly, since May 2021, at least eight political prisoners have died while incarcerated. I reiterate Ireland’s longstanding position that all political prisoners must be released and that the regime must end its repression against the Belarusian people.

Ireland’s response to the situation in Belarus has focused on working bilaterally, at EU, and at multilateral level, to support civil society and the democratic opposition in exile and to highlight concerns regarding the Lukashenko regime's violations of human rights.

Ireland will continue to support strong coordinated EU sanctions and other measures, including action at the OSCE and at the UN, to hold the Belarussian regime accountable for its violations of human rights and the rule of law, and its complicity in Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine.

At the same, we will continue to focus on working bilaterally and at EU level to ensure that in this increasingly difficult context the people of Belarus are assured of the EU’s continued focus and commitment to their well-being, human rights and legitimate aspiration to a prosperous future in a democratic Belarus.