Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Belarus

Tuesday 8 September 2020 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government do not accept the results of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus and condemn violence by authorities towards protestors and journalists.
  • All defence engagement with Belarusian armed forces has been suspended due to recent events.
  • The UK will match any list of Belarusian officials subject to asset freezes and travel bans by the EU.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Brendan Clarke-Smith
Foreign Affairs
Context

Clarke-Smith inquired about the impact of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus on the country's political stability.

Question

What recent assessment has been made regarding the effect of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus on its political and security situation?

Answer from Wendy Morton

The Government do not accept the fraudulent presidential elections' results in Belarus. They condemn violence by authorities towards peaceful protestors and journalists, including BBC representatives. Morton raised concerns with the Foreign Minister of Belarus and at international forums like OSCE and UN Security Council. She called for an independent investigation through OSCE and supported sanctions, emphasizing dialogue between Belarusians and their government.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Neale Hanvey
Defence
Context

Hanvey questioned the UK's support of military and police training for regimes with human rights concerns, including Belarus.

Question

Between 2018-2020, UK armed forces provided training to countries with FCO human rights issues. Hanvey asked for comprehensive detail on specific training given to Belarusian forces and full details on training provided to Turkey, Bahrain, and the Philippines.

Answer from Wendy Morton

UK had a co-operative relationship with Belarusian armed forces, including mutual learning, winter survival training, language tuition, and peacekeeping. However, due to recent events, all defence engagement has been suspended. Morton did not provide specific details on training provided to Turkey, Bahrain, and the Philippines.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific training details for Turkey, Bahrain, and the Philippines were not addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Foreign Affairs
Context

McCarthy raised concerns about the EU's plans to freeze assets and ban travel for Belarusian officials.

Question

McCarthy asked if the UK is planning similar actions against Belarusian officials, noting protests outside Parliament and the need to meet members of the diaspora community.

Answer from Wendy Morton

Morton confirmed that at minimum, the UK would match any list of Belarusian officials subject to asset freezes and travel bans by the EU.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Damian Collins Con
Foreign Affairs Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Collins raised concerns over internet shutdowns and removal of accreditations for BBC journalists.

Question

Does Collins agree that internet shutdowns and revocation of journalist accreditation are unacceptable violations? What representations have been made to Belarus?

Answer from Wendy Morton

Internet access has indeed been blocked in Belarus. Morton stated that the democratic values and rights of citizens, including freedom of expression and media freedoms such as access to information, must be respected by Belarusian authorities.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Brendan Clarke-Smith
Foreign Affairs
Context

Clarke-Smith inquired about Morton's commitment to continue pressuring the Belarusian regime.

Question

Does Clarke-Smith seek assurance that Morton will work with international partners to stop violence against journalists, protesters, and opposition candidates? Does he share concern over forced deportations?

Answer from Wendy Morton

Morton supports an independent OSCE investigation into the fraudulent election and human rights abuses. She has engaged with Germany, US, France, Baltic states, Finland, Sweden, and Poland on these issues.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Alyn Smith
Foreign Affairs
Context

Smith proposed specific measures such as targeted sanctions, military cooperation suspension ramifications, humanitarian aid exploration, and sanctions on companies facilitating oppression.

Question

Smith urged Morton to support sanctions under the Magnitsky regime, provide explicit statement on suspended military co-operation, explore humanitarian aid, and consider sanctions against companies involved in oppression facilitation.

Answer from Wendy Morton

Morton supports sanctions against those responsible for election fraud and human rights abuses. She will work with international partners to sanction such individuals and hold Belarusian authorities accountable. The UK has doubled support to independent media, human rights organizations, and community groups in Belarus.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Alyn Smith
Context

Smith invited Morton to meet Belarusian activists in the UK facilitated by his office.

Question

Will Smith facilitate a meeting between Morton and Belarusian activists?

Answer from Wendy Morton

Morton committed to get in touch with Smith's office to see if a meeting can be arranged.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q8 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

Activists are outside Portcullis House during a crisis, raising concerns about election monitoring funding cuts and the UK's behaviour towards European allies.

Question

I have specific questions around election monitoring in Belarus. Have the Government cut funding for that function? Is there a desk officer on Belarus who speaks Belarusian? The Government are turning up the heat on European allies with leaked briefings about breaking internationally binding treaties, which is not responsible behaviour. Could we have great tweets but also specific action to pull together with Europe to solve this problem?

Answer from Wendy Morton

We are working very hard with our international partners, through the OSCE, and supporting sanctions. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has a team of officials working on this area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific funding cuts for election monitoring and the existence of a desk officer who speaks Belarusian were not addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email