Head Of EU Delegation In Belarus: I Am Disappointed To Hear About Statkevich’s Arrest

Uladzimir Niakliayeu gave an account of political repressions in Belarus at Euronest in Kiev.

Poet and politician Uladzimir Niakliayeu, one of the leaders of the Belarusian National Congress, wrote on Facebook:

"Kiev. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. The meeting of the working group on Belarus. A discussion of the EU-Belarus dialogue results. I talk about the trial of Belsat TV channel journalists. About Mikalai Statkevich’s arrest. About the intensification of repression in Belarus in general. About the fact that only the regime benefits from the "dialogue" of the EU. U. Misev, head of the EU delegation in Belarus A. Victorin, director of the Eastern Neighborhood Department L. Meradit, and director of the International Center for Army Studies M. Samus, as it seems to me, listen attentively."

Head of the European Union representation in Belarus Andrea Viktorin immediately reacted to the latest developments in Belarus, Radio Svaboda informs.

"I was disappointed when I heard about Statkevich’s arrest," – Andrea Victorin said.

According to her, in the context of the preparation of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels and the increasing interest of the European Union in cooperation with Belarus, this is "not a very good sign". Human rights, electoral legislation, the death penalty and dialogue with society in Belarus remain under the spotlight in Europe.

All politicians present at Euronest agreed: the dialogue of the European Union with the Belarusian authorities should not take place under the terms and conditions of the Belarusian leadership.

"To date, incredible as it may seem, only Lukashenka wins all the trump cards in this "dialogue." It doesn’t have to be this way," – Uladzimir Niakliayeu shared his impressions of the meeting.