Former political prisoner Andrei Kim awarded Freedom Medal in Strasbourg (photo)
The II Congress of the Belarusian Diaspora in Europe and the United States took place in Strasbourg. The participants focused on the foreign relations of Belarus and internal problems. The forum targeted young activists from Belarus and the Belarusian diaspora abroad as well as experts with insight in Belarus' internal probelms.
The participants of the congress passed several statements (on political prisoners and the planned construction of a nuclear plant in Belarus) and a resolution. On the last day of the meeting, they also visited the European Council, the European Human Rights Court, and met with representatives of the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Andrei Kim (on photo) and Ivan Shyla (currently in the Belarusian army) were awarded with Freedom Medal Christos Pourgourides, the special rapporteur on Belarus, made a speech:
“I am one of the so called "old" members of the Council of Europe and I am still interested in the Belarus issue. The people of Belarus have lost millions in their struggle for democracy throughout their history. The people like Andrei Kim prove that resistance will neverstop”.
Andrei Kim focused on political prisoners in Belarus in his statement:
"Everyone thought that after Alexander Kozulin and myself were released from jail, there would be no more political prisoners in Belarus. Unfortunately, this is not so. Artsiom Dubski, Maxim Dashuk, three activists and entrepreneurs are new political prisoners".
The participants of the congress passed several statements (on political prisoners and the planned construction of a nuclear plant in Belarus) and a resolution. On the last day of the meeting, they also visited the European Council, the European Human Rights Court, and met with representatives of the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Andrei Kim (on photo) and Ivan Shyla (currently in the Belarusian army) were awarded with Freedom Medal Christos Pourgourides, the special rapporteur on Belarus, made a speech:
“I am one of the so called "old" members of the Council of Europe and I am still interested in the Belarus issue. The people of Belarus have lost millions in their struggle for democracy throughout their history. The people like Andrei Kim prove that resistance will neverstop”.
Andrei Kim focused on political prisoners in Belarus in his statement:
"Everyone thought that after Alexander Kozulin and myself were released from jail, there would be no more political prisoners in Belarus. Unfortunately, this is not so. Artsiom Dubski, Maxim Dashuk, three activists and entrepreneurs are new political prisoners".
