BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/03/2008

EU Condemns Violence Used in Dispersing Belarusian Protesters

Ljubljana, 28 March (STA) - The Slovenian presidency of the EU on Friday expressed strong disappointment at the arrest of a large number of people in dispersing peaceful protesters in Belarus on 25 March. The EU also condemned the use of violence in breaking up the protests.

Noting that the main protest in the country's capital had been authorised by the Minsk City Council and proceeded peacefully, the EU calls upon Belarus to release the arrested without delay and to refrain from further prosecuting them.

The EU is also worried about the nationwide round-up of local journalists connected to foreign media, which started on 27 March, and the recent treatment of the US Ambassador to Belarus and many of her staff who have been obliged to leave the country at very short notice.

"The European Union hopes that Belarus will now take prompt and concrete steps to enable a resumption of positive dynamics in relations between the European Union and Belarus," the presidency said in a press release.

Saying that it has taken positive note of the recent release of all but one internationally recognised political prisoners in Belarus, the EU "reiterates its expectation that Aliaksandr Kazulin, the last remaining political prisoner, will be released unconditionally and without delay."

The EU also called on the Belarusian authorities to refrain from further arrests and stop persecuting representatives of Belarusian civil society.

Dozens of people were arrested on Tuesday as thousands turned up for a peaceful protest honouring a banned Belarusian holiday, Freedom Day.

Source:

http://www.sta.si/en/vest.php?s=a&t=0&id=1270995&pr=1

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