Catherine Ashton: EU to closely follow preventive arrests in Belarus

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy answered a written question from the co-head of the Euronest working group on Belarus.

Polish MEP Agnieszka Kozlowska-Rajewicz sent a written question to the European Commission regarding the preventive arrests in Belarus. She turned attention to a rise in the number of preventive arrests of opposition activists ahead of the EU-Ukraine-Customs Union summit that was held in Minsk on August 26, according to the information on Kozlowska-Rajewicz's website.

Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, wrote in her answer that violations of the rules of democracy and human rights were a serious problem for the EU in its relations with Belarus. This is reflected in the EU's policy towards Belarus, including a wide range of sanctions.

According to Ashton, the EU Delegation to Minsk is aware of the situation of the so called preventive arrests and closely follows its development.

The EU raises its concerns over the issue in its contacts with the Belarusian authorities, politician added.