London makes special statement on Belarus
"The UK condemns in the strongest terms the recent sentencing of Mr Yauhen Parfyankou, Dzmitry Novik, Alyaksandr Mauchanau and Alyaksandr Atroshchankau
to imprisonment".
Minister for Europe David Lidington issued the statement on Belarus and addressed the official Minsk in the website of the British Foreign Office yesterday.
The Belarusian authorities should "release all political detainees immediately and to drop all charges against them. This would be a step towards the resumption of a dialogue with the international community ", — is stressed in the statement.
The convictions are said to be politically motivated and are entirely disproportionate to the charges brought.
London is also deeply concerned by the evident pressure being placed on the lawyers defending those detained and by the statement issued by Ales Mihalevich on 28 February concerning his treatment while in KGB detention. The British Minister calls on the Belarusian authorities “to carry out prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all reports of torture, physical coercion and intimidation”, informs Radio Liberty.
