European Parliament member not allowed to enter Belarus

MEP Marek Migalski wasn't allowed to enter Belarus in spite of promises of the authorities.

He was ordered to leave a train from Warsaw in Brest last night. The politician and his team spent the night in the border guards room without sleep.

As charter97.org has learnt from Marek Migalski's aide Anna Bialas, he is returning to Warsaw. At 10:45, the politician will gave a press conference in the Polish Sejm over the incident.

Marek Migalski is known for his position on Belarus and active support of strict measures against the Belarusian regime.

He has been helping Belarusian political prisoners for the last three years. He put much effort to help Zmitser Bandarenka and Siarhei Kavalenka. After their release, he sought the release of Zmitser Dashkevich and Mikalai Statkevich.

The MEP held a campaign to boycott the Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk due to repression against the opposition.

Nine political prisoners, including former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich and vice president of the the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bilaiatski, are serving long prison terms in Belarus. About 30 opposition activists have been detained by the police in the last two weeks. Human rights defenders explain the arrests by the Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk.