BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/08/2007

EU condemns detention of opposition figures in Belarus

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union Friday called for the immediate release of political prisoners in Belarus as it renewed its criticisms of the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko following a series of arrests of opposition figures.

"I am dismayed by the new arrests and detentions reported over the last days," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU Commissioner for external relations, in a statement.

She highlighted the case of Pavel Sevyarynets, recently released from a sentence of three-years labor and internal exile, but who on Thursday was sentenced to 15 days in jail when a court ruled a meeting to promote a book about his experiences was an illegal gathering.

"I call once again on the Belarusian authorities to release all those detained on political grounds without delay, and to respect the inalienable rights of the people of Belarus to assemble peacefully and express themselves freely," Ferrero-Waldner said.

The EU has long been at odds with the regime in Belarus. It banned Lukashenko and other high-level officials from entering the EU in response to the harassment of opponents.

Lukashenko's government has silenced dissent and closed opposition media. A handful of political opponents disappeared in the late 1990s and are feared dead. U.S. officials have called Lukashenko "Europe's last dictator".

Lukashenko won a third term in 2006. The U.S. dismissed the election as illegitimate, as it has previous elections that have kept him in power since 1994.

Source:

http://www.pr-inside.com/eu-condemns-detention-of-opposition-figures-r207923.htm