Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union condemned in the strongest possible terms the recent wave of repression against former political prisoners remaining in Belarus, as well as relatives of political prisoners. The raids and searches carried out by the regime's security services targeted more than 100 people, many of whom were arrested. According to a statement issued in Brussels on Thursday by the office of the European Union Foreign and Security Policy Coordinator, Josep Borrell.
The statement added, "Lukashenko's regime continues its deplorable tactics of intimidation and repression against its critics and potential political opponents ahead of the 'elections' scheduled for February."
We urge the Belarusian authorities to refrain from any further repression and violence directed against the Belarusian people, and to comply with Belarus's international human rights obligations, including by immediately and unconditionally releasing all those arbitrarily detained and ceasing arbitrary prosecutions.
The statement concluded by saying, “The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus and will continue to support them on their path to an independent and democratic state. Belarusian citizens deserve the right to be represented by those they freely choose through transparent, free and fair elections.”