Europe called upon "freezing" contacts with Belarusian regime

Besides, Europe is called upon making support to the country dependent upon respect to human rights, rights of national minorities and freedom of expression.

Jacek Protasiewicz, head of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Belarus, a Polish MP, condemned "politically motivated" searches held on May 18 in the flats of "Say the truth!" campaign activists, BelaPAN informs.

In his statement Protasiewicz notes: crackdown by the authorities is related to the fact that activities of the campiagn were aimed at providing transparency of information and monitoring of the presidential elections in Belarus.

The Polish deputy writes with regret that the elections to local councils fell short of the democratic standards, in particular, in the procedure of forming election commissions and the process of vote count.

Besides, Protasiewicz condemned "groundless" verdicts delivered by the Supreme Court Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka and Mikhail Kazlou, and also persecution of activists of the Union of Poles headed by Anzelika Borys.

The head of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Belarus reminded that despite of the calls of the European Parliament, a person convicted in the Case of Fourteen, Artsyom Dubski, is still imprisoned. Political parties and non-governmental organisations are still denied registration, crackdown on journalists and limitation of the freedom of expression is continued.

The development of the situation in Belarus, Protasiewicz noted, has demonstrated absence of progress in the sphere of human rights, freedom of thought and assembly. "Regress is obvious," the statement reads.

Jacek Protasiewicz has called upon the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to consider a possibility to freeze contacts with the Belarusian authorities at the high level, and to make support to the country dependant upon respect to human rights, rights of national minorities and freedom of expression.

On May 19 the chairman of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek called upon the Belarusian authorities to stop repressions and crackdown on the structures of the civil society and return to the path of democracy. Buzek expressed serious concern over deterioration of the situation with human rights in Belarus in connection with the recent reports about repressions and crackdown on the structures of the civil society.

In an interview to BelaPAN British Ambassador Rosemary Thomas, who represents in Belarus Spain which is presiding in the EU, does not exclude that the searches are an attempt to crack down on independent opinion and activities and could be related to the upcoming presidential elections campaign.

On May 18 mass searches were held by policemen and KGB men in Minsk headquarters of “Say the Truth!” campaign, and in Hrodna, Brest, Homel, Mahilyou, Babrujsk, Slonim, Barysau, Vaukavysk and other cities of Belarus at the places where democratic activists live.

The campaign leader poet Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, editor of “Tovarishch” newspaper Syarhei Vaznyak, activist of the United Civil Party Andrei Dzmitryeu were detained. At the moment they are held in the remand prison in Minsk. According to inofficial reports, the criminal case is initiated under article 250 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (dissemination of false information about goods and services).

The Belarusian authorities do not comment on the situation.