Andris Piebalgs: Situation in Belarus changed from bad to worse

“Political prisoners in the centre of Europe are a shame,” a European Commissioner says.

“Over the last months, the situation [in Belarus] has gone from bad to worse with further repressive measures and policies towards civil society and the political opposition,” EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs said at a debate in the EP on March 14. The debate was held to discuss the EP resolution on Belarus, which is to be adopted on March 15, ERB reports.

According to Piebalgs, the foremost condition for normalization of the relations remains the same.

“The immediate and unconditional release and rehabilitation of political prisoners come the first. Political prisoners in the centre of Europe, it is a shame,” the EU Development Commissioner said.

Other things that worry the EU are torture and inhuman treatment of prisoners, repression against activists and restricting freedom of travel, amendments to the laws restricting the right to freedom of assembly and association and capital punishment.

“Unfortunately, the Belarusian authorities have done nothing to make us change our policy [of expanding sanctions]: neither released and rehabilitated political prisoners, nor reduced pressure on the opposition, nor improved the situation of human rights. Further sanctions are unlikely to improve the bilateral relations. It's a pity, but it is important to us as we adhere to our values,” Andries Piebalgs concluded.

He reminded about a remark by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton about putting other businessmen supporting or benefiting from the Lukashenka regime on the blacklist at the Council meeting on March 23, if political prisoners are not released by this time.

The EU Commissioner also confirmed the programme called European Dialogue for Belarus would be launched in Brussels on March 29. The programme is supposed to be an open dialogue with all political forces and civil society.