Belarus Headlines 18

EU Diplomats Call on Belarus to Release Political Prisoners The Slovak Embassy in Minsk has issued a statement calling on the Belarusian authorities to end their "repressive practices" against civil society, respect the human rights of Belarusians, and release all political prisoners. Slovakia acts on behalf of the EU presidency, currently held by Portugal, in Minsk, where Portugal does not have diplomatic representation. The Slovak Embassy issued the statement after a November 7 meeting between the heads of EU countries' diplomatic missions in Minsk and Alyaksandr Milinkevich, a former presidential candidate and the leader of the unregistered Movement for Freedom. Milinkevich drew attention to the situation of Alyaksandr Kazulin, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Dashkevich, and Andrey Klimau, all described as political prisoners. Milinkevich noted Klimau's deteriorating health, and added that Dashkevich is currently on trial behind closed doors. "The EU's local presidency expresses the deep concern of European diplomats in Minsk over the situation of Belarusians who are believed by the international human rights organizations to be political prisoners," the Slovak statement reads.

• Месца выхаду: Brussels
• Дата выхаду: 2007-11-20
• Выдавец: Office for a Democratic Belarus
• Copyright: © 2007 by Office for a Democratic Belarus
• Кнігазбор: Kamunikat.org
• Дадатковая даведка: http://www.democraticbelarus.eu Выданьне публікуецца тут за ласкавай згодай Office for a Democratic Belarus