“High Representative Ashton is deeply concerned about numerous reports over the last weeks of acts of harassment of representatives of civil society, the opposition and independent media in Belarus, including the sentencing of Vasil Parfyankow to six months’ detention, and last week’s arrest of journalist Andrzej Poczobut for alleged libel against the President,” the statement by the spokesperson of the High Representative Catherine Ashton on the situation in Belarus says.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is also concerned of recent legislative developments with draft bills that “aim at increasing the repressive powers of the KGB and restricting independent monitoring of public opinion, at a moment when Belarus prepares for parliamentary elections in September.”
Catherine Ashton calls on the authorities of Belarus to reverse the current repressive policies, and to stop all acts of harassment of the opposition, media and civil society.
Belsat
