NEWS

Belarus: Ashton calls on authorities to stop harassment of opponents

29-06-2012

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has called on the authorities in Belarus to stop the harassment of opposition, media and civil society, expressing deep concern at a number of recent incidents.
 
A statement issued last night by the spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs said:
 
“High Representative Ashton is deeply concerned about numerous reports over the last weeks of acts of harassment of representatives of civil society, the opposition and independent media in Belarus, including the sentencing of Vasil Parfyankow to six months’ detention, and last week’s arrest of journalist Andrzej Poczobut for alleged libel against the President.
 
"The High Representative is also concerned of recent legislative developments with draft bills that aim at increasing the repressive powers of the KGB and restricting independent monitoring of public opinion, at a moment when Belarus prepares for parliamentary elections in September."
 
The statement ended with Ashton calling on the authorities in Minsk to reverse current repressive policies, and to stop all acts of harassment of the opposition, media and civil society. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
 
Read more
 
Statement
 
EU Delegation to Belarus
 
ENPI Info Centre webpage - Belarus
 

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