On Monday 26 March, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) described the response of Belarusian authorities before the start of an unauthorised rally the previous day to mark Freedom Day as "disproportionate".
"While the authorisation of the celebratory event was appreciated, a requested rally was not allowed and the response of the Belarusian authorities was disproportionate", the EEAS spokesperson said in a press release.
"Democratic principles and fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, association and of the media must be fully ensured in any democratic society", the spokesperson stated, saying that "in this context", the EU "expects that all recently arrested citizens who are still being detained are released immediately".
According to the EEAS spokesperson, steps taken by Belarus to respect universal fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and human rights "will remain vital" in shaping the EU's future relationship with the country.
Freedom Day 2018 commemorated the centenary of Belarus' independence. It was the first time in 25 years of power that the country's president, Alexander Lukashenko, authorised the 25 March public commemoration. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)