Alyaksandr Atroshchankau: If the regime were ready for a dialogue, political prisoners would have been released yesterday

• 10.02.2012, 12:51

Alyaksandr Atroshchnkau, a coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign and former political prisoner, took part in a meeting with envoy from Brussels Gunnar Wiegand.

Gunnar Wiegand, the Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia Regional Cooperation and OSCE in the European External Action Service (EEAS), held a meeting with former political prisoners and relatives of prisoners of conscience who still remain in prisons.

Wiegand said he had an impression during his talks with Belarusian officials that some political prisoners may be released in the nearest days. The EU official noted the Union's position regarding the Belarusian authorities remained tough and principled.

“If the Belarusian regime really intended to hold a dialogue, political prisoners would have been released yesterday. Arrangements with Lukashenka mean nothing. A dialogue must be carried out under particular conditions. There must always be a threat of imposing sanctions, also economic ones, if agreements are not fulfilled.

Lukashenka is weak now due to the oncoming Russian election. It's not clear how the Belarus-Russia relations will develop. That's why the dictator tries to demonstrate his success in the western direction. It's necessary to demand the regime to stop repression and release political prisoners as well as reform the whole political system,” Alyaksandr Atroishchankau said in an interview to charter97.org.