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EU should continue pressure on Belarusian authorities, says EU foreign policy chief

The European Union should continue pressure on the Belarusian authorities to put an end to reprisals in the country, Catherine Ashton, the EU`s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said at a meeting at the European Parliament on December 13.

Thanks to the EU, legal assistance has been provided to numerous victims of politically motivated reprisals in countries such as Belarus, Egypt and Uzbekistan, as well as their families, said Ms. Ashton.

She noted the need for the EU to increase support of its partners contributing to the promotion of democracy.

Ms. Ashton expressed regret about the recent prison sentence passed on prominent Belarusian rights activist Ales Byalyatski, who she said had been imprisoned for helping distribute EU support to civil society.

“We have made it clear that we absolutely must see the release and the rehabilitation of the political prisoners,” she said. “That means enabling people to go back to the lives they had, including standing for elections and participating in political life. We will continue to work down that track.” //BelaPAN