PACE Head Supported Belarusian Democrats :: Charter'97 :: News

The chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene van der Linden has expressed his support to Belarusian oppositional forces in a letter addressed to the leader of the United Civil party of Belarus Anatol Lyabedzka. “My position in support of the democratic reforms has always included support of the democratic forces as a vital element of political pluralism,” the head of the PACE wrote.

Rene van der Linden underlined his “longstanding and huge interest to the situation in Belarus and to political development of this country”. He also expressed regret that he couldn’t take part in the Congress of democratic forces on May 26-27 in Belarus.

The head of the PACE visited Belarus in January this year. It happened after the official Minsk stated a desire to improve relations with Europe after an energy row with Russia.

Representatives of European structures state that a thaw in relations with Belarus is possible after Minsk would make real steps in the sphere of democratic reform. In particular, the matter concerns release of political prisoners.

Last week oppositional politicians Mikola Statkevich and Paval Sevyarynets were granted early release. Since 2005 they were serving sentences for organizing protest rallies. Katsyaryna Sadouskaya, convicted for an alleged insult of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, was released as well.