Ales Bialiatski: Eastern Partnership should protect European values

"Eastern Partnership" should not turn into a tool of support of the authoritarian society.

Ales Bialiatski, former political prisoner, the head of the closed Viasna human rights center, Vice-president of the International Federation of Human Rights, stated that at the second civil society conference of the Eastern Partnership on May 20 in Riga, BelaPAN reports.

The Conference is organized within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Summit, which takes place on 21-22 May.

Bialiatski says the Eastern Partnership should be the "instrument of protection of European values and those who share them". "Eastern Partnership must be the platform to support democracy and justice in our countries", he stressed.

He believes the EU should use criteria values to work with some authoritarian EP countries. "You cannot grant any privileges to countries with democratic freedom and human rights violations" Bialiatski stressed.

The human rights activist noted that the "involving policy" in some values of the European Community "does not work". "Now we see how Azerbaijan has been attracted to the Council of Europe and they do not know what to do with it, because Azerbaijan violates all provisions and rules of the Council of Europe", Bialiatski gave an example.

You'd better pay attention to what our government do than say", he added.

Bialiatski emphasized the relation of authorities to the civil society in Belarus and Azerbaijan was "a marker". There is a need to make clear conclusions if there are political prisoners, pressure on media and Internet resources, persecution of civil activist and non-governmental organizations, non-free elections in Belarus and Azerbaijan", the human rights activist said.

He is convinced that positive changes in countries should be ensured "not through a flirting with authoritarian regimes and funding that strengthens these regimes, but through the support of civil society and independent media."