MEP urges to reinstate personal sanctions against Lukashenka regime

The current crackdown against journalists in Belarus is a direct result of EU's lack of proper reaction to the blockage of Charter97.org website.

Julie Ward, MEP from the United Kingdom, has wrote a letter to the leading EU diplomats: High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

 The MEP urges to "reintroduce personal sanctions against the regime [in Belarus], and to freeze the programmes of financial assistance" from the EU.

Amendments to the media law and recent arrests of journalists from tut.by and BelaPAN outlets is a direct result of European Commission’s "lack of proper reaction" to the blockage of Charter97.org website earlier this year.

The full text of the Ms Ward's letter is given below.

"Dear High Representative Mogherini,

Dear Commissioner Hahn,

I am writing to express my concern regarding the situation of freedom of expression in the Republic of Belarus, and in particular the ongoing undermining of press freedom.

As you know, last week, Belarussian authorities conducted search raids and arrested several journalists over alleged illegal access to a state news agency.

During the raids which preceded the arrests, professional equipment was seized.

It was further reported that eight journalists were then released. However, the authorities did not drop the charges and some of these journalists are facing up sentences of to five years.

These very worrying developments follow a pattern of continuous violations of press freedom by Belarussian authorities. The crackdown against journalists started earlier this year with the closure of Charter97.org, an independent news website.

I and many others feel that the Belarusian government has felt emboldened to continue harassing journalists as a direct result of the passivity shown by the European Commission regarding the first wave of press freedom violations. The European Commission’s lack of proper reaction has encouraged Belarus authorities to further diminish press freedom in the country by introducing drastic amendments to the media law. Individual bloggers and freelance journalists are now being persecuted on unprecedented scale.

I therefore urge you to address this unacceptable silence and urgently release a statement condemning the current crackdown against journalists, to reintroduce personal sanctions against the regime, and to freeze the programmes of financial assistance that the Belarussian government currently receives.

Looking forward to hearing from you, I remain available for any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Ward MEP"