US ambassador expresses concern over crackdown on peaceful demonstration in Minsk :: Charter'97 :: News

People in any country should have the right to freely express their views, George Krol, the US ambassador to Belarus, said on Thursday while commenting to reporters on the police`s crackdown on an unauthorized opposition demonstration in Minsk on April 26.

He noted that the United States is concerned about the Belarusian authorities` inadequate reaction to the peaceful demonstration.

More than 30 people were arrested as the police aborted an anti-Lukashenko crowd`s attempt to stage a march in downtown Minsk on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. Among the arrested were 14 Russian citizens and five Ukrainians who were later sentenced to five to 15 days in jail on a charge of violating Belarus` street demonstration regulations.

The US embassy does not understand why violence was used against those who were peacefully expressing their views, Mr. Krol said.

He noted that apart from the need to maintain the public peace, the Belarusian authorities should guarantee respect for human rights and freedoms under the constitution and Belarus` OSCE and UN commitments.