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Yauhen Afnahel: Pressure On Regime Must Be Put Both Inside And Outside Belarus

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Yauhen Afnahel: Pressure On Regime Must Be Put Both Inside And Outside Belarus
Yauhen Afnahel

The democratic countries’ principled position has always helped to attain freedom for political prisoners.

On June 22, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of 17 countries of Central and Eastern Europe are coming to Minsk.

The visit will take place against the background of increased repressions in Belarus. New criminal cases have been opened against opposition activists, 15 political prisoners – "patriots’ case" defendants, as well as Dzmitry Palienka and Mikhail Zhamchuzhny, are behind bars. Therefore, during the meetings of the European diplomats and representatives of the Belarusian authorities, the issue of human rights violations in our country must be considered. This was stated by European Belarus civil campaign coordinator Yauhen Afnahel in his comment for the Belarusian National Congress site.

– After the spring protest rallies, new political prisoners appeared in Belarus. How should we fight for their release?

– We need to fight in the way that has repeatedly proved its effectiveness – by putting pressure on the regime both inside the country and from outside. All the defendants in the "patriots’ case" must be recognized as political prisoners. A lot of organizations, including the Belarusian National Congress, the European Belarus civil campaign, the forum "Freedom To Political Prisoners!", did that in March-April. It is not clear why the oldest human rights organizations and leaders of opposition parties remain silent.

All of us must support the prisoners, write to them, help their families. It is important that the theme of political prisoners is constantly heard in the independent media. And, naturally, it is necessary to go out on street rallies and demand from the authorities the immediate release of the patriots. The nearest rallies will be held on June 22 and July 3. It depends on our solidarity how quickly the political prisoners are released.

– You also mentioned the necessity of international pressure.

– Two large international forums will be held in Minsk in the near future. On June 22, the meeting of the foreign ministers of the countries participating in the Central European Initiative will take place, and from July 5 to July 9 – the session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. These events will be held against the background of sharp deterioration in the situation with human rights in Belarus – mass arrests, torture in prisons, falsified criminal cases. It must be understood that official Minsk uses them for its legitimization and propaganda.

The principled position of democratic countries has always helped to attain the freedom for political prisoners, and diplomatic overtures with Lukashenka, on the contrary, led to increased repressions. Therefore, I would like to ask the dictator’s guests several important questions:

– Will a distinct demand to the Belarusian authorities to release political prisoners and stop repressions sound during the meeting of CEI ministers and the OSCE PA session?

– Will the foreign ministers of European countries and the participants of the OSCE PA session meet with the Belarusian political prisoners’ relatives, as well as with human rights activists and opposition leaders?

The time spent in jail for the "patriots’ case" defendants, as well as for Dzmitry Palienka and Mikhail Zhamchuzhny in many ways depends on the correct answer to these questions.

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