Calling for Release of Opposition Activists in Belarus

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed concern about the situation in Belarus after the violent actions of security forces against demonstrators and the arrest of opposition politician Alexander Kozulin. Several opposition activists are still in custody, and instant trials are taking place in Minsk which are contrary to the fundamental standards of the rule of law, Steinmeier said on March 26.

 “I condemn the unjustified use of force by security forces and the unreasonable actions of the Belarus government against numerous detained activists of the democratic movement,” Steinmeier said. The German Government pushes for the release of opposition leader Kozulin and all those opposition supporters who were arrested in connection with the events after the presidential election, he said. The basic right to freedom of opinion and to gather must also apply in Belarus.

Steinmeier said he would work on inviting the leader of the Belarus opposition movement, Alexander Milinkevich, to the next meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxemburg on April 10.

After speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the situation in Belarus on March 26, Steinmeier said they agreed to carefully monitor developments and to stay in close contact.

March 28, 2006

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