Hannes Swoboda: Compromise is inadmissible in the issue of the release of political prisoners

Steps towards the Belarusian authorities may only be taken after the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.

The head of the social democratic fraction in the European Parliament Hannes Swoboda stated that in Vilnius as he met representatives of Belarusian oppositional parties and movements. The chairman of the United Civic Party Anatol Labiedzka reported about that to the charter97.org web-site. Apart from him the chairman of the Just World party Siarhej Kalakin, the head of Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada Iryna Vieshtard and the deputy head of the Movement for Freedom Jury Hubarevich were present at the meeting.

According to Anatol Labiedzka, Hannes Swoboda claimed that compromise was inadmissible in the issue of the release of Belarusian political prisoners.

“The leader of European social democrats fully supported the three steps strategy towards official Minsk. The release and exoneration of political prisoners must be the first step. The next one – holding free and fair elections. After that the implementation of the modernization plan for Belarus may be started. He said that there can be no compromise over the issue of political prisoners. The lack of free and fair elections makes international community go in vicious circle in the relations with Belarus”,- Anatol Labiedzka said.

The UCP chairman noted that not only the text of the resolution on our country, but also EU’s position towards official Minsk depend on the position of social-democrats, who are the second largest fraction in the European Parliament.

“Hannes Swoboda made a joke that even his second name obliged him to follow moral guidelines in politics in contrast to pragmatic calculations”, - Anatol Labiedzka told.

The politician stated that the meeting was devoted to the resolution draft on Belarus, which Hannes Swoboda’s colleague from the social-democratic fraction, a MEP for Lithuania Justas Paletskis.