BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28.07.2005

Polish-Belarus relations in crisis

Poland' s foreign minister Adam Rotfeld told a press conference in Warsaw that Polish-Belarusian are in crisis after a crackdown by the regime of president Alexander Lukashenko on the Union of Poles in Belarus. Its building in Grodno, close to the border with Poland, was stormed by the special forces this morning, which detained a dozen people, including some journalists. All were later let free.

The president of the Union of Poles in Belarus Andzelika Borys, was interrogated for two hours by prosecutors in Grodno after an anonymous information that she defrauded the union's assets.

It is not clear if she will stand trial. Borys is not recognized by the regime, which supports the union's previous leaders known for their loyalty to president Lukashenko.

Poland recalled its ambassador to Belarus. Minister Rotfeld said the ambassador will not return until the situation of Poles in Belarus is cleared up. Some 400,000 ethnic Poles live in that ex-Soviet republic.

The Lukashenko regime has accused Poland of meddling in the Belarusian affairs and has expelled three Polish diplomats from Minsk recently. Similar moves from Poland followed.

Source:

http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=25592&j=2