Brussels, 04/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 30 April, the European Union described the decision by the Belarus Court to extend the prison sentence of Mikalay Dzyadok, a member of an anarchist group, as “deplorable”. Dzyadok is “claimed to have” breached prison rules and rejected the appeal for parole. He is considered a political prisoner and was expected to be released on 3 March 2015.
In a press release, the spokesperson for the High Representative explained “the extension of his sentence casts doubt about the motives that led to this decision”. The spokesperson added, “We are calling on the Belarus authorities to reconsider Mr Dzyadok's sentence and release him and all political prisoners”. The spokesperson explained that the importance the EU attaches to the question of political prisoners in relations between the EU and Belarus remained unchanged. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)