Strasbourg, 15/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 14 February, the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, called on the Belarus authorities to release the opposition activist, Sergey Kavalenka, “immediately and unconditionally, and to provide him with the necessary medical assistance”. The activist is continuing his hunger strike against “unjustified imprisonment”. Schulz warned that “the Belarus authorities will have blood on their hands if he dies” and stressed that he was appalled by “the deteriorating situation in Belarus regarding human rights and political freedoms. The prolonged hunger strike by jailed opposition activist Sergey Kavalenka highlights violations of democratic principles and disrespect for the rule of law.”
Schulz also reiterated his call for the release of other political prisoners and a pardon for Uladzislau Kavalyou and Dzmitry Kanavalau, who are on death row for terrorist attacks on the Minsk metro in April 2011.
The president of the Parliament stated that his institution deeply regrets that the stance of the authorities keeps the relations between Belarus and the EU frozen. “The citizens of Belarus deserve better. The European Parliament strongly supports civil society and the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people and encourages the authorities in Minsk to respond positively to the EU offer of visa facilitation for its citizens”, he added. (CG/transl.fl)