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USA will not bargain for political prisoners, diplomat says

The US government will not bargain with Alyaksandr Lukashenka for political prisoners convicted in connection with a post-election protest that was staged in Minsk on December 19, 2010, US Charge d’Affaires Michael Scanlan said in a interview with BelaPAN on Thursday.

Mr. Scanlan stressed that the US position on the issue “is quite clear—free all political prisoners and drop all charges and overturn all convictions.”

Commenting on Mr. Lukashenka’s statement about the possible release of those imprisoned over the mass demonstration, Mr. Scanlan said: “First of all, as far as I understand, when Lukashenka referred to 'so-called political prisoners', he only meant ex-presidential candidates. However, when we talk about political prisoners in Belarus, we mean the approximately 50 people against whom charges were brought in connection with the events on December 19. Most of whom, unfortunately, have already been convicted.”

Mr. Scanlan said that President Barack Obama warned on May 27 that the US government would pursue new sanctions against select Belarusian state-owned enterprises in addition to its sanctions announced on January 31.

“Our policy is, has been, and will remain consistent”, Mr. Scanlan stressed.