Rehman Chishti, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, remarked on the second anniversary of Belarus’s illegitimate presidential election:
Lukashenko has waged a repressive campaign against his own people for the previous two years. Belarus presently has around 1,300 political prisoners. The government has attempted to stifle independent media and civil society.
We support the people of Belarus’ democratic aspirations and human rights. We encourage the government to follow international law by promptly and unconditionally releasing all political prisoners and allowing those in exile to come home without fear of detention or persecution. We also denounce Lukashenko’s participation in and support for Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Belarusian officials will be held responsible for their conduct.
This involves imposing punishments. We have named over 50 Belarusian people and organizations that have aided Russia’s irresponsible assault against Ukraine since its invasion. Furthermore, the law we introduced in Parliament on July 4 extends previous Russia sanctions to Belarus by enacting new financial, economic, and transportation penalties. These are in addition to the 117 designations issued in reaction to the rigged election and associated human rights abuses.
There must be free and fair elections; the people of Belarus must have the democratic freedom to choose their own destiny.