Resolution on Belarus to be considered in European Parliament
5- 22.05.2008, 16:58
The European People’s Party condemns the arrests of political opponents in Belarus and has prepared a draft resolution on human rights abuses.
“The situation with democracy, human rights and rule of law doesn’t get better but worsens. Groundless arrests of opposition activists and civil society figures (including the recent detention and trail over former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich) as well as pressure upon independent mass media stay in contradiction with the rhetoric of the Belarusian government over its desire to improve the relations with the European Parliament,” the statement, circulated by the European People’s party, says.
Jacek Protasiewicz, head of the Delegation for Relations with Belarus, noted, commenting on the statement: “It is obvious that fulfilling of democratic norms is a key matter in normalisation of relations with Belarus. Until the Belarusian authorities keep Alyaksandr Kazulin in prison, detain and arrest civil society figures and independent journalists, we can’t believe their intentions to improve relations with the EU are serious.”
The European People’s Party condemns harsh sentences to Syarhei Parsyukevich and Andrei Kim, delivered on 22 and 23 April in Minsk for their participation in the rally of entrepreneurs on 10 January 2008; condemns detentions of independent mass media journalists, searches in apartments, confiscation and waste of their property by officers of the Belarusian secret services. It also express great regret that the Belarusian law enforcement bodies have repeatedly misused power over participants of the peaceful rally on 25 March 2008 on the anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic proclamation.
“We urge the Belarusian authorities to refrain from all forms of force against representatives of the democratic opposition and journalists,” the statement notes.
The largest European party has prepared a draft resolution on human rights abuses, democracy and rule of law, which is to be considered in the European Parliament.
