Belarus
No dialogue without releases, no money without reforms
The arrest and continued detention of Belarusian activist Ales Bejazki is further evidence of President Alexander Lukashenkos's intention to silence any critics of his regime. The arrests and intimidation of opposition journalists and human rights groups continue.
Commenting on the adoption today by the European Parliament of a resolution on Mr. Beljiazki, Green MEP and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Werner Schulz said:
A few releases of activists as seen today are not enough. In this context the suggestions from Minsk to establish a round table can not be taken seriously.
It is deeply regrettable that the authorities of certain EU member states, like Poland and Lithuania, indirectly took part in the arrest Beljazki. Due to the negligent transmission of account information, dozens of other activists have now been put in serious danger.
It is a monstrous act that European banks have until recently been involved in the financial survival of the regime, and moreover undermined claims by the EU and the IMF.
The EU and individual Member States in particular should pay sharper attention to compliance with EU directives, sanctions should be monitored more closely and potential loopholes should be closed. Furthermore, in the relations between the EU and Belarus only one statement should be applied: No dialogue without unconditional releases of all remaining political prisoners, no money without reform.
For more information on the arrest of the activist Ales Bejazki earlier this year, see Spiegel.de
