Belarus – Arbitrary arrests (8 September 2020)

France condemns in the strongest terms the arbitrary arrests and the practice of forcing into exile several members of the Coordination Council, as well as numerous demonstrators, in recent days. Full light must in particular be shed on the situation of Ms. Kolesnikova.

We call on the Belarus authorities to immediately put an end to these measures, to release those who have been arbitrarily detained and to launch the inclusive national dialogue with Belarusian society that we have calling on the Belarus authorities to initiate since August 9. We reaffirm our attachment to the freedom of expression and the freedom to demonstrate, as well as to respect for political rights and fundamental freedoms.

In this context, France reaffirms its support for the swift adoption by the EU of sanctions targeted against those responsible for the crackdown against the Belarus population, as well as the election fraud on August 9.