Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Government of Belarus on the arrest and detention in prison of students in Minsk on 28 June 2018; what steps the Government is taking to promote the importance of equal rights for LGBT+ people internationally; and if he will make a statement.

The UK is working through our Diplomatic Missions to monitor and raise human rights issues, including the promotion of LGBT+ rights, in host countries. The UK is also working with the UN, EU, OSCE, The Council of Europe and the Commonwealth to promote tolerance and non- discrimination against LGBT+ people. With regard to Belarus, our Embassy in Minsk is closely monitoring the situation of LGBT+ people, including this latest case of four Belarussian nationals arrested following a protest in support of LGBT+ rights outside the Belarus Ministry of Interior, and regularly raises this issue with the Belarusian authorities. The Embassy flew the Rainbow flag on 17 May to mark of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.