EU envoy calls on Minsk to restore ex-political prisoners' civil rights

The European Union insists that the Belarusian authorities returned all the civil rights to all former political prisoners, said the head of the EU Delegation to Belarus Andrea Wiktorin on May 16 during the open round-table meetng in Minsk. The event, entitled "European Neighbourhood Policy - Belarus expectations" with the participation of the delegation of the European People's Party (EPP) was held in Minsk.

In her speech, Andrea Wiktorin emphasized that the EU-Belarus relations should be based on common values ​​- respect for democracy, human rights, the rule of law.

The European diplomat reminded that parliamentary elections will be held in Belarus this year. In this regard, she said that the diplomats will be watching the implementation of the OSCE recommendations on the elections in Belarus. Also, according to Wiktorin, it is very important that former political prisoners received all the civil rights. "We will continue to raise this issue at every opportunity," she promised.

Wiktorin emphasized the importance of the government not preventing the registration of political parties and non-governmental organizations - she mentioned human rights defenders from "Viasna" as an example.