BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

01/05/2006

EU condemns Belarus crackdown on opposition

In Short:

Top EU and international leaders have expressed criticism and concern over the recent arrest and imprisonment of Alexander Milinkevich, the main opposition leader in Belarus.

Brief News:

Milinkevich, along with three other opposition politicians, was sentenced to 15 days in prison on 27 April for leading a recent rally that was declared illegal by the government.

In a statement, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that "I urge the Belarussian authorities to release and rehabilitate [Milinkevich] immediately. I also reiterate the EU's call to the Belarusian authorities to swiftly liberate all the political prisoners previously detained, including Mr Alexander Kozulin."

External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that "I call for the immediate release of all those arrested and detained because of their opinions."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Washington "roundly condemns" Milinkevich's imprisonment "and sincerely hopes that the Belarusian government will accept the will of the international community."

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has called on the "regime in Minsk to release [Milinkevich] immediately [...] The Euro-Atlantic community cannot accept this," he said.

The EU has imposed a travel ban on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka and 30 of his key ministers following the presidential elections in March, which was widely considered rigged.

Source:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/eu-condemns-belarus-crackdown-opposition/article-154810