Scanlan: Dec. 19 trials - another step to self-isolation of Belarus
U.S. Charge D'Affaires Michael Scanlan has stated such an opinion.
According to him, as reported by BelaPAN, these trials were politically motivated and should not have taken place at all. Scanlan underlined that the USA, the EU and Russia urged to release all the detainees in connection with the Dec. 19 events immediately and to withdraw all charges against them, in public.
The diplomat thinks that there is a danger that decent presidential contenders may decide not to take part in elections as they know this may bring them to prison.
He reminded that Belarus had declared its willingness to become a part of Europe. However, to achieve this it is necessary to meet certain norms and standards, in particular, the standards of the Council of Europe which concern supremacy of law, Scanlan said.
