EU calls on Lukashenka to release over 1300 political prisoners in Belarus

The European Union has welcomed Minsk's decision to release some political prisoners and called on Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to release all those imprisoned for political reasons. This is stated in a statement by a spokesperson for the European External Action Service, UNN reports.

Details 

In particular, the EU took note of the release of several political prisoners in Belarus convicted of participating in peaceful protests after the fraudulent 2020 presidential election, and shared the "relief and joy of those released and their families".

We also take note of the fact that some of those released were prisoners in need of urgent medical care, and call on the authorities to ensure that all prisoners receive adequate medical care

The European Union's foreign policy department reminded that more than 1,300 political prisoners remain in Belarus, including Sergei Tikhanovsky, Igor Losik, Maria Kolesnikova, Nikolai Statkevich, Maxim Znak and Viktor Babaryko.

The EU continues to call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, who are often held in life-threatening conditions

Recall

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed a decree pardoning 30 prisonersconvicted of protest actions. Among those pardoned are 14 women, 16 men, people with illnesses and pensioners who admitted their guilt and repented.