European Parliament's EPP-ED group condemns arrests of opposition activists in Belarus

"The situation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law is not only not improving, it is worsening," it said in a statement. "Continuous arbitrary arrests of members of civil society and opposition activists, including the most recent temporary detention and trial of Aliaksandr Milinkevich, coupled with the clampdown of the independent media, clearly contradict the recent rhetoric of the Belarusian Government concerning their wish to improve relations with the European Union."

The EPP-ED group condemned prison sentences imposed recently on opposition youth Andrey Kim and small business activist Syarhey Parsyukevich over their participation in January unsanctioned demonstrations.

It also deplored a police crackdown on an attempt by opposition supporters to stage a demonstration in Minsk on March 25 on the occasion of the anniversary of the short-lived Belarusian National Republic, and following raids on offices of independent broadcasters and homes of journalists working with them.

It called on the Belarusian authorities "to unconditionally abstain from all forms of use of force against the representatives of democratic opposition and from the violation of the freedom of the media."

Jacek Protasiewicz, chairman of the EP's Delegation for Relations with Belarus, was quoted as saying: "It is absolutely clear that compliance with democratic principles is the key issue to normalising relations with Belarus. As long as the Belarusian authorities continue to keep Aliaksandr Kazulin imprisoned, use intimidation and targeted detention, and arrests of civil society members as well as independent media journalists, it is hard to believe the seriousness of their wish to improve relations with the European Union."

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