The United Kingdom and 37 other OSCE participating States called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and end repression against civil society, independent media and opponents of the regime. The joint statement was delivered on 17 September at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.
It was read by Denmark’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Christian Grønbech-Jensen. The text was published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The statement was delivered on behalf of the Informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus and additional participating States that joined it.
“Little has changed”
The authors recall: six years ago, after the August 2020 election, Belarusians peacefully opposed a fraudulent result. Dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s regime answered with a brutal, systematic crackdown. “Regrettably, we find ourselves repeating many of the same concerns raised last year, as little has changed,” the text says.
Authorities keep repressing fundamental freedoms and targeting those seen as critics. The statement cites the UN Special Rapporteur: arbitrary detention and politically motivated prosecutions remain widespread; “anti-extremism” and counter-terrorism laws are misused to criminalise free expression, association and peaceful assembly. Human rights defenders, journalists, opposition figures and civil society remain under attack. Transnational repression against Belarusians in exile and their families is growing.
Viasna’s figures in the OSCE chamber
The statement cites the Human Rights Centre Viasna: since 2020 at least 10,016 people have faced criminal prosecution for political reasons — up about 1,500 in the past year. More than 100,000 repression cases have been recorded in total. At the time of the statement, 886 people were recognised as political prisoners.
States recalled the 2023 OSCE Moscow Mechanism report and later UN findings: Belarus has failed its human rights obligations and OSCE commitments — including free elections and timely invitations for ODIHR observers. Separately: support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, instrumentalisation of migration and hybrid activities against neighbours.
Releases exist — the cycle is not broken
Participants welcome the release of several hundred political prisoners, but note that politically motivated arrests and prosecutions continue — and the number of people held for political reasons has begun to rise again.
“Release from prison does not necessarily bring an end to repression. Former political prisoners are facing expulsions, continued surveillance, restrictions and the risk of renewed prosecution, while repression increasingly extends to Belarusians in exile and their families.”
They also express deep concern at reports of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in detention — including prolonged isolation and inadequate medical care.
“This continued cycle of imprisonment and persecution must end. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners and urge the Belarusian authorities to end their campaign of repression. Those responsible must be held to account.”
Who signed
For the Friends of Democratic Belarus: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Denmark. Also joining: Albania, Austria, Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, North Macedonia, San Marino and Slovakia (Slovakia appears in both lists in the published text).
“We stand firmly with the people of Belarus in their aspirations for a free, democratic and independent country,” the statement concludes. Six years on, Belarusians’ courage “remain[s] undiminished” — and international pressure, at least in the OSCE chamber, repeats the same demands. Because Lukashenka’s regime still has not met them.