Catherine Ashton over vrijlating oppositieleider Wit-Rusland (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Raad van de Europese Unie (Raad) i, gepubliceerd op zondag 15 april 2012.

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 15 April 2012 A

Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton i on the release of Belarusian former Presidential candidate

Andrei Sannikaw

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:

"I welcome the news that former Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikaw as well as his main campaign aide Dzmitry Bandarenka are now free and will be able to rejoin their families and friends.

Andrei Sannikaw and Dzmitry Bandarenka stand out as prominent symbols for the tireless work and commitment of many for a democratic and European Belarus. They were sentenced on political grounds in May last year in the aftermath of the 19 December 2010 presidential elections, in which Andrei Sannikaw ran as a candidate.

I call on the authorities of Belarus to release unconditionally now also all other remaining political prisoners and to remove all restrictions on the enjoyment of their civil and political rights. This would certainly contribute to possibilities for moving towards improved relations between the EU i and Belarus."

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