18/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Brutality against protesters. In a statement published on Saturday 16 July, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy Catherine Ashton “regrets the Belarusian authorities' brutal handling on repeated occasions of the 'silent protesters' - ordinary Belarusian citizens who peacefully and legitimately express their discontent over the situation in the country”. Many of them have been mistreated by law enforcement personnel and fined or sentenced to administrative arrest “on questionable charges”. Ashton urges the government of Belarus to respect the rights, including the freedom of expression and assembly, of the people of Belarus and to release and drop all charges against those detained or sentenced. She also reiterates her call for the immediate and unconditional release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners. (L.C./transl.rt)