EU Demanding From Lukashenka Regime To Release Its Employee From Prison

• 19.12.2024, 5:19

He faces up to 12 years in prison.

Foreign Policy Service of the European Union urged Lukashenka's regime to release Nikolai Khilo, an employee of the EU Delegation in Belarus, who faces up to 12 years in prison.

This was stated by the European Commission spokesman on foreign policy issues, Anitta Hipper, to the portal Politico.

Khilo has been in custody since April 24, 2024, when he was detained by the Belarusian security services.

According to the Belarusian human rights centre ‘Viasna,’ which calls Khilo a political prisoner, the man could be accused of insulting Belarusian dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

The EU Delegation official is to go on trial on December 23 and faces a prison sentence of between four and 12 years.

‘We call on the Belarusian authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally. We raise the issue of him with Belarus in all our contacts with Belarus,’ Hipper said.

She also emphasised that Hilo remains an employee of the EU Delegation, which ‘maintains regular contacts with his family and lawyer and is closely following his case’.