Brussels to meet Makei with protets

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) organises a demonstration in the Belgium capital on July 22.

FIDH reminds about political prisoners remaining in Belarusian jails: Mikalai Autukhovich, Mikalai Statkevich, Pavel Seviarynets, Zmitser Dashkevich, Eduard Lobau, Ales Bialiatski, Mikalai Dziadol, Ihar Alinevich, Aliaksandr Frantskevich, Yauheny Vaskovich, Artsiom Prakapenka and Andrei Haidukou. FIDH says the Belarusian authorities continue harassment of their opponents.

The press release underlines that criminal cases were recently initiated against Vasily Parfiankou and Uladzimir Yaromenak, participants of the protests on December 19, 2010, for violating the rules of preventive supervision.

“The EU must seize this key opportunity Mr Makey’s visit presents to obtain the release of political prisoners, but not only. Belarus is in a systemic human rights crisis, and the EU must hold firm and push for systematic changes to be kept high on its agenda. Human rights and political prisoners are not bargaining chips to be traded off,” the press release says.

The foreign ministers of the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries will meet in Brussels on July 22. The meeting will focus on the preparations for the Vilnius Summit scheduled for November. Belarusian foreign minister Uladzimir Makei, whose sanctions were suspended, is expected to visit the event.