EU parliament criticizes arrest in Belarus of ethnic Pole Poczobut
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 5 July 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, EU parliament criticizes arrest in Belarus of ethnic Pole Poczobut, 5 July 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/500025290.html [accessed 28 December 2015] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 05, 2012
EU lawmakers have strongly condemned the arrest in Belarus of the chairman of the Council of the Union of Poles in Belarus, Andrzej Poczobut.
All major political parties in the European Parliament adopted a resolution on July 5 calling for an investigation into the case of Poczobut, who is also a journalist with the Polish daily "Gazeta Wyborcza," and for all the charges against him to be dropped.
A statement issued by the EU lawmakers "deplores the fact that the Belarusian authorities are making it impossible for journalists to operate, by introducing repressive laws aimed at silencing civil society activities."
It also calls for Belarus to bring its legislation into line with international standards and eliminate censorship.
Poczobut was arrested in the Belarusian town of Grodno last month and charged on grounds of libel against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
