«Free Belarus Now!»: Boycott any dialogue with emissaries from the last dictatorship in Europe
- 23.09.2011, 13:33
Statement of the Campaign «Free Belarus Now!».
Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov has disappeared whilst being transferred to Babruisk penal colony. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Sanikov was transferred from Navapolatzk penal colony without warning on 20th September, he has not been seen since. The presidential candidates lawyer only became aware of the transfer when she called the colony on 21st September to request a visit. When she requested acces to Sannikov in Babruisk she was informed that he had not yet arrived and was not expected there until the evening of the 24th Sept.
Zmitser Daskevich, Leader of the Young front, democratic youth movement in Belarus is also missing. Daskevich is on his eleventh day of a hunger strike. He is protesting against his mistreatment by prison officials. His health is fragile and moving him puts him at unecissary risk.
Following the recent reports from other political prisoners of the intense pressure they had come under to sign confessions of guilt and pleas of pardon there are very serious concerns about the safety of these political prisoners.
We demand that the Lukashenko regime immediately provide the lawyers of Andrei Sannikov and Zmitser Daskevich with information of there whereabaouts and access to them so that they are able to verify his wellbeing.
This latest development comes a week before Belarusian High-ranked officials are due to attend the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Warsaw.
Lukashenko recently promised Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov that all of Belarus’ political prioners would be released by the end of September and the regime would engage Belarusian oppositionists in dialogue. These were false promises. Lukashenkos actions this week prove once again that he cannot be trusted. Lukashenko continues to violate the human rights of his citizens while making promises to Europe he does not intend to keep.
We ask, how can European ministers engage in dialogue with a regime that has displayed such a blatent disregard for the human rights of it’s people?
We call on all participents in the EaP summit to boycott any dialogue with the Belarusian attendees. We demand that they do not engage with emissaries from the last dictatorship in Europe.