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EU foreign policy chief expresses concern about detention of Ales Byalyatski

Catherine Ashton expresses her concern over reports that the authorities in Belarus detained prominent human rights defender Ales Byalyatski, and that his private resident was searched, the spokesperson for the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy said in a statement issued on August 4.

“The High Representative calls on the authorities in Minsk to clarify as a matter of urgency the reasons for the reported detention of Mr. Byalyatski,” the statement said. “The High Representative reiterates her strong regret at repeated acts of intimidation and harassment of peaceful human rights defenders in Belarus, and at the continued refusal to grant legal status to independent human rights organisations in the country." //BelaPAN