Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland is working to support Belarus civil society and the democratic opposition in exile; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66601/25]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her assessment of the current situation in Belarus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66241/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 63 together.

Belarus continues to live under the shadow of repression. The government remains 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 1,257 political prisoners. Shockingly, since May 2021, at least eight political prisoners have died in the regime’s captivity.

I reiterate Ireland's long-standing 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.

My Department has provided bilateral funding to Viasna, an NGO which provides medical, psychological and humanitarian support to current and former political prisoners. In recent years, my Department has also provided funding to several other Belarusian civil society projects, including in support of independent media, through grants provided by the European Endowment for Democracy.

Ireland is committed to continuing to speak out against the Lukashenka regime and to support the rights of the Belarusian population.

I would like to take this opportunity to underscore once again Ireland’s commitment to supporting the Belarusian democratic movement in its pursuit of a democratic future for all Belarusians.

Our connection with Belarus and its people is reinforced by the compassion and empathy of Irish families who welcomed Belarusian children into their homes and lives, creating permanent bonds in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was one of those children, I am aware of the close ties of friendship that Ms Tsikhanouskaya holds for Ireland from her childhood visits to our country.

On 26 August, together with other EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, the Tánaiste met Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya 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 well-being 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.