Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on the release of Belarusian former Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikaw

Brussels, 15 April 2012. Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement:
 
"I welcome the news that former Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikaw  as well as his main campaign aide Dzmitry Bandarenka are now free and will be able to rejoin their families and friends.

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http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/...

News of Belarus

PACE rapporteur dismayed by harassment of Viasna human rights centre in Belarus

Strasbourg, 21.11.2012 – Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), the rapporteur on Belarus of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has expressed his dismay that the “Viasna” human rights centre in Minsk has been ordered to vacate its office by 27 November, following a year of obscure legal procedures which transferred ownership of the apartment in which the office is located to the state.

Valiantsin Stefanovich: "Viasna" will continue its work in all circumstances

It was reported on Saturday that the confiscation of the office of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" was scheduled for November 26. Human rights defenders stress that the news was not a surprise for the activists of the organization and they would continue their work in all circumstances.