UN Calls For Release Of Belarusian Rights Defenders
The Office of the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on the authorities in Belarus to
begin a dialogue with the political opposition and "to unconditionally
release all remaining prisoners who are serving sentences for exercising
their fundamental human rights."
In a statement issued on April 20, the OHCHR welcomed the April 14-15
releases of political activists Andrey Sannikau and Dzmitry Bandarenka.
The two were granted presidential pardons.
The OHCHR called for the immediate release of other jailed rights
activists, including former presidential candidate Ales Byalyatski and
opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka.
On April 19, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka postponed an
annual address to the nation and ordered officials to remove references
to "excessively tough response measures" that could be taken in the face
of heightened tensions with the European Union over his rights record.
