Problem of political prisoners in Belarus to be discussed in European Parliament

• 4.06.2008, 10:18

Debates on the theme of political situation in European are held in the European Parliament today and tomorrow. The situation in Belarus is also to be discussed in Brussels. In particular, an issue of political prisoners. The Belarusian authorities refused to released prisoners of conscience Alyaksandr Kazulin, Syarhei Parsyukevich and Andrei Kim.

Leaders of opposition political parties Anatol Lyabedzka, Vintsuk Vyachorka and Syarhei Kalyakin are invited to the session of the European Parliament in Brussels. Leader of the “For Freedom” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich was to come to Brussels, too, but deputy head of the movement Alyaksei Kravets came instead of him.

Leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, who is restricted to leave Belarus, flew to Brussels through Moscow. According to him, EP president Hans-Gert Poettering and his assistants are to take part in the debates.

According to the politician, the Belarusian opposition figures are going to discuss an issue of political prisoners in Belarus. It should be reminded that the president of the European Parliament has recently made a statement urging the Belarusian authorities to release immediately all prisoners of conscience.

Alyaksandr Kazulin, former candidate for presidency in Belarus, entrepreneurs’ leader Syarhei Parsyukevich, and youth activist Andrei Kim are still in Belarusian prisons. Kazulin was arrested for organising of mass actions of protest against rigging the presidential elections results in 2006, Parsyukevich and Kim - for participating in protest actions of entrepreneurs in the beginning of 2008.