Participants Of Eastern Partnership Summit Urged To Support Struggle For Democracy In Belarus

Activists of the Belarusian opposition published an appeal to the participants of the Eastern Partnership Summit.

A regular session of the public initiative “Political Prisoners’ Forum” was held in Minsk. Upon its results, an appeal to the European politicians participating in the Eastern Partnership Summit which is going on in Brussels now, has been adopted. The website published the text of the appeal in full:

Appeal to the participants of the Eastern Partnership Summit, November 23-24, 2017

Stop repression! Freedom to Belarusian political prisoners!

The Lukashenka regime continues to hold political prisoners in jails, and to conduct repressions against dissidents.

Meanwhile, the European community, which lifted the sanctions off the regime following the release of six political prisoners back in August 2015, is conducting a “broad dialogue” with the regime, hoping for holding free and fair local “elections” early in 2018. Many European politicians hold official meetings in Lukashenka’s administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the “chamber of representatives”, and all this looks like the support of the regime.

Lukashenka was personally invited to the Eastern Partnership Summit, which has started in Brussels on November 23, for the first time ever.

Meanwhile, the regime started a new wave of repression against the independent society and democratic activists, in the conditions of the economic crisis. Political prisoners are again jailed in Belarus. Activists are fined for the participation in peaceful actions, their property is seized for non-payment of the fines. There’s not even a glimpse of “free elections” – more falsifications are being prepared.

Renown regional ethnographer Aliaksandr Yurkoits was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment under a fabricated case.

Tortures are used against human rights defender Mikhail Zhamchuzhny, who is held in the Horki prison. The pressure on the jailed anti-fascists Illia Valavik, Dzmitry Tsekhanovich, Vadzim Boika, Filip Ivanou, Dzmitry Paliyenka and others continues.

The regime conducts searches and interrogates the parents whose sons left for Ukraine to defend the country from the Russian aggression. Voluteer Taras Avatarau got 5 years of imprisonment as a result of the provocation organized by the special services, he is suffering from severe pressure of the prison administration now.

The criminal case against dozens of Belarusian patriots, which was started this spring during the mass protests, has not been terminated yet.

Hundreds of people are punished with big fines for participation in peaceful protest actions. The authorities seized the country-house and the plot of land from activist Nina Bahinskaya for the non-payment of fines; restrained the house belonging to movie director Volha Nikalaichyk. The regime puts pressure on the already released political prisoners – Mikalai Statkevich, Alesia Sadouskaya, Zmitser Dashkevich and others.

Uladzimir Niakliaeu was arrested for the participation in the peaceful protest action against the military exercises West-2017, he is now standing trial over alleged “calls for participation in a non-sanctioned action”, but in the reality, for an interview to the independent media.

Leader of the independent Trade Union of the Radio-Electronic Industry Workers (REP) Henadz Fiadynich and head of the Minsk city organization of the REP Trade Union Ihar Komlik are under investigation in the fabricated case.

Demonstrative repression, arrests, fines and violence show – this regime never changes.

We, the representatives of political parties, public organizations and human rights defenders:

- Demand immediate release of all political prisoners of Belarus: Mikhail Zhamchuzhny, Aliaksandr Yurkoits, Illia Valavik, Vadzim Boika, Filip Ivanou, Dzmitry Tsekhanovich, Dzmitry Paliyenka, Iryna Motsnaya.

- Demand rehabilitation and restoration in all rights all the released political prisoners

- Demand termination of political persecution, violence and fines for the peaceful protest actions

- Call on the European community to support democracy, legality and independence in Belarus

- Define the “elections”, conducted in such conditions, illegitimate in advance

- Call on the Belarusian society for solidarity with political prisoners and victims of repressions

Minsk, November 23, 2017

Raisa Valavik, mother of a political prisoner;

Liudmila Pospikh, mother of a political prisoner;

Pavel Seviarynets, leader of the BCD party, former political prisoner;

Anatol Liabedzka, leader fo the UCP party, former political prisoner;

Ryhor Kastusiou, leader of the BPF party

Hanna Shaputska, coordinator of the forum “Freedom to Political prisoners in Belarus”;

Yury Vauchok, lawyer, human rights defender, publicist;

Sviatlana Kavalenka, member of the UCP party;

Maxim Viniarski, activist of the “European Belarus” civil campaign;

Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of the Young Front, former political prisoner;

Katsiaryna Sadouskaya, human rights defender, former political prisoner;

Andrei Bandarenka, human rights defender, former political prisoner;

Ihar Lednik, human rights defender, former political prisoner;

Vasil Zavadzki, human rights defender;

Natallia Harachka, human rights defender;

Viktar Melnikau, civil activist, father of the Belarusian volunteer in Ukraine;

Halina Lahatskaya, civil activist;

Artsiom Liava, journalist;

Ales Marchanka, member of the “Dzeya” movement;

Mikalai Viarzila, civil activist;

Viktar Shaputska, civil activist;

Maryna Bondarava, civil activist;

Dziyana Seradziuk, journalist;

Yulia Stsiapanava, journalist, activist of the “European Belarus” civil campaign;

Aleh Zhalnou, the UCP member;

Yauhenia Zhalnova, civil activist;

Aliaksei Zhalnou, civil activist, former political prisoner;

Yauhen Batura, activist