Commissaris Ferrero-Waldner geschokt over arrestatie oppositieleden in Wit-Rusland (en)

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said:

"I am dismayed at the arrest and detention of several members of the Belarus democratic opposition over the last days, including Pavel Severinets and Aleksei Shein. I call on the Belarusian authorities to release all those detained on political grounds without delay.

It should be remembered that politically-motivated arrests are in contradiction to the EU's offer to Belarus to engage in a full partnership as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, as is clearly set-out in the "non-paper to Belarus†that we issued last November. The EU's offer is subject to Belarus taking steps towards democratisation and respect for human rights, including the inalienable right of the people of Belarus to express themselves freely."