Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland is working bilaterally, at EU, and at multilateral level, to support Belarus civil society and the democratic opposition in exile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57012/25]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent release of political prisoners by Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56894/25]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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166. 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. [56899/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 123 and 166 together.

Belarus continues to live under the shadow of repression. I remain extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Belarus.

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

I welcome recent efforts by the United States to achieve the release of political prisoners of the regime in Belarus. While the regime has released dozens of political prisoners in recent months, it has exiled many of them, separating them from their families and their homeland. It has also placed many more people in prison for their political views.

Former political prisoners have given harrowing accounts of prolonged isolation, psychological pressure, and other inhumane treatment suffered in Belarusian prisons. I share their grave concerns about the treatment of the estimated 1,227 political prisoners. Shockingly, since May 2021, at least eight political prisoners have died in the regime’s captivity.

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 Lukashenka regime's violations of human rights.

Ireland is committed to continuing to speak out against the Lukashenko regime and to support the rights of the Belarusian population. On 26 August, together with other EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, I met Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled leader of the Belarusian democratic movement and her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanousk, who was recently released from Belarusian prison after years as a political prisoner.

Since his release, Siarhei has highlighted the inhumane and degrading conditions endured by political prisoners in Belarus, advocated for their release and continues his work to achieve a democratic future for all Belarusians. I commend his courage and commitment to the values of freedom and the wellbeing of his fellow Belarusians.

Ireland continues to support strong coordinated EU sanctions and other measures, including action at the OSCE and at the UN, to hold Belarus 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 time, we will continue to focus on working bilaterally and at EU level to ensure that the people of Belarus are assured of the EU’s continued commitment to their well-being, human rights and legitimate aspiration to a prosperous future in a democratic Belarus.