16/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton delighted with release of Andrei Sannikaw and Dzmitry Bandarenka. On 15 April, the EU high representative for foreign affairs warmly welcomed the release previously of the former presidential election candidate, Andrei Sannikaw and his main campaign aide, who were sentenced on political grounds in May last year in the aftermath of the 19 December 2010 presidential elections. “Andrei Sannikaw and Dzmitry Bandarenka stand out as prominent symbols for the tireless work and commitment of many for a democratic and European Belarus”, explained Catherine Ashton. She has called on the Belarus authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all other remaining political prisoners and to remove all restrictions on their civil and political rights. She explained that “this would certainly contribute to possibilities for moving towards improved relations between the EU and Belarus”. (CG/transl.fl)