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Sweden condemns crackdown on peaceful protest in Minsk

Sweden has condemned Wednesday's crackdown on a peaceful anti-government protest in Minsk on June 22.

As policemen started grabbing protesters, three officers attempted to arrest David Emtestam, second secretary of the Swedish embassy in Belarus, but let him go after he produced his documents.

Cecilia Julin, spokeswoman for the Swedish foreign ministry, described the incident as unacceptable and evidence of the Belarusian authorities' disrespect for fundamental democratic rights and freedoms. Sweden condemns the use of force against the protesters, she told BelaPAN.

Andrey Savinykh, spokesman for the Belarusian foreign ministry, said on Thursday that the ministry had no information about the incident involving the Swedish diplomat.

According to Mr. Savinykh, "incidents of the kind are resolved with consideration for two principles." "First, the privileges granted to diplomats in the framework of the Vienna Convention are indisputable. Second, a diplomat must observe the laws of the host country," he said.

Mr. Emtestam is currently de facto in charge of the embassy, filling in for Ambassador Stefan Eriksson who is away on holiday.