06/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU condemns transfer of political prisoner. On Wednesday 6 May, the European Union denounced the decision of a Belarusian court of 4 May to transfer the former presidential candidate and political prisoner, Mikalay Statkevitch, to a high-security prison for having “allegedly” violated prison rules. This decision is “deplorable”, the spokesperson to the High Representative stated in a press release. “Detained since December 2010 (for having “organised mass protests”: Ed), Mikalay Statkevitch continues to suffer unacceptable treatment”, she added. On 30 April, the EU reacted in the same way when another political prisoner, Mikalay Dzyadok, had his sentence extended, again for “allegedly” violating prison rules (see EUROPE 11307). The High Representative's spokesperson reiterated the importance of releasing all political prisoners in the context of improving EU-Belarus relations. In March, the EU said that it was prepared to step up relations with Minsk (see EUROPE 11270). (CG)