Paleckis makes excuses

A member of the European Parliament responded to criticism from Andrei Sannikov, the leader of European Belarus civil campaign.

The European Parliament's Rapporteur on Belarus Justas Paleckis said official Minsk should release political prisoners to improve relations with the European Union, BelaPAN news agency reports.  

“The release of political prisoners is a minimum goal. It will also remove the barrier and give the opportunity to establish a dialogue that can bring positive changes,” the MEP said.

Justas Paleckis said he had no information about plans to exchange a possible return of a Swedish ambassador to Minsk for lifting EU sanctions from the Belarusian foreign minister.

“As far as I know, the exchange didn't take place. I don't think it may happen. But I have to admit that I don't know everything about negotiations between the EU and Minsk. Anyway, primitive exchanges is not the EU's style. The EU's style, in my opinion, is creating conditions for moving forward in the absence of serious obstacles and thinking how to meet interests of both Belarusian and EU citizens,” he said.

It should be reminded that European Belarus leader Andrei Sannikov criticised Justas Paleckis's remark on Minsk's alleged readiness to release political prisoners.

“It is an attempt to pacify public opinion, first of all, in Europe. It is not clear why Paleckis got involved in this dirty game,” the former candidate for Belarusian presidency said.

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