To the Members of the European Parliament Subject: Systematic violations of human rights in Belarus

Dear Members of the European Parliament, The organization Belorussians in Exile is composed of Belorussians and their families who were forced to leave the Republic of Belarus because of systematic violations of human rights and basic democratic principles and because of a risk of persecution owing to their political views. We call on the European Parliament to take the necessary steps to ensure that Belarus rejects dictatorial principles of government and respects the principles of democracy and human rights. This appeal to the European Parliament is connected with the parliamentary elections in Belarus, which took place on Sept. 23 and did not meet democratic standards. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concluded: In the 23 September parliamentary elections, many OSCE commitments including citizens rights to associate, to stand as candidates, and to express themselves freely were not respected, despite some improvements to the electoral law (OSCE International Election Observation). The parliamentary elections demonstrated Belarus definitive transformation into a dictatorship. We are also concerned that despite the European Parliaments sanctions against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, major European companies continue to maintain a commercial relationship with Belarus, thus supporting the dictatorship. In particular European companies are key buyers of Belorussian chemical and potash products. According to the U.S. State Department, these sectors provide the bulk of Belarus foreign currency revenues and finance the Lukashenko regime. In addition, European Parliament experts have found that one of the most effective means of changing the political situation in Belarus is compiling and enlarging a list of Belorussian elites who are forbidden from entering the European Union. EU

sanctions are likely to have the desired impact on policymaking in Belarus if they target representatives of Belorussian business elite actively supporting the regime (European Parliament - Directorate General For External Policies - Impact of Targeted Sanctions On Belarus). We agree with the European Parliament experts and believe that enlarging the list of politicians and businesspeople can change the situation in Belarus. In order to change the political situation in Belarus, stop political repression and ensure a normal life for citizens of our country, we ask the European Parliament to: 1. Strengthen economic sanctions against major Belorussian companies, which provide a significant share of the Lukashenko regimes foreign currency. 2. Call on European companies that maintain commercial ties with Belorussian companies, whose earnings finance the regime, to break them until the European Union sees noticeable improvements in human rights in Belarus. 3. Include Belarusian bureaucrats and businesspeople who support the Lukashenko regime on the blacklist and prevent them from entering the European Union. Belorussians in Exile hopes for the support of the European Parliament and member countries of the European Union in the fight for human rights and political freedom in Belarus.

Belorussians in Exile www.belorussians.org +1 646 583-2525