BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/04/2008

Belarus rejects detainee debate

The president of Belarus has dismissed calls to release political prisoners, despite pressure from the US and other Western powers.

The EU and US have made closer ties conditional on the release of detainees by President Alexander Lukashenko.

Both have imposed sanctions against Mr Lukashenko, accusing him of suppressing political opposition.

But in his annual address, the president said from now on the topic of political prisoners would be "closed".

Mr Lukashenko said: "We have taken a decision to put an end to the topic of political prisoners.

"Five are free, one has refused. What more can be demanded of our authorities?"

Defiant

Washington and Brussels have welcomed recent rulings which freed detainees classified as political prisoners but are putting pressure on the country to free a high-profile academic, Alexander Kozulin.

Mr Kozulin, who ran against Mr Lukashenko in 2006, was imprisoned for five and a half years for helping organise mass protests against Mr Lukashenko's victory.

He rejected an offer to travel to Germany last year to be with his wife, who was receiving treatment in the country, because he feared that he would not be allowed to return. His wife has since died.

"You keep demanding that I release this man or that man. Every day you want something from me," Mr Lukashenko said in the speech in which he did not mention Mr Kozulin by name.

The president was defiant towards the US, whose ambassador to the country bowed to pressure from local officials and left Belarus last month.

"If the Americans introduce new sanctions and think we will collapse, that's rubbish," he said.

Analysts note that many Belarussians credit Mr Lukashenko with maintaining economic stability and paying pensions on time, and for avoiding the post-communist turmoil seen in neighbouring countries.

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7375143.stm

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