The European Union takes note of the release of several political prisoners in Belarus, convicted for taking part in peaceful protests after the 2020 fraudulent presidential elections. We share the relief and joy of the released individuals and their families.

We also take note of the fact that some of those released were prisoners requiring urgent medical assistance and call on the authorities to provide all prisoners with adequate medical care.

The EU continues to urge Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, often held in life-threatening conditions. There remain more than 1300 political prisoners in Belarus, including Sergei Tsikhanouski, Ihar Losik, Maria Kalesnikava, Mikalai Statkevich, Maksim Znak and Viktar Babaryka who have been denied any possibility to communicate with the outside world for over 18 months.