In Brussels Uladzimir Makei was met with the picket in support of political prisoners

The activists from the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) held a demonstration in front of the EU Council building dedicated to the visit of Uladzimir Makei, Belarusan Foreign Minister.

Belarusan official arrived on a visit to Brussels on July 22 to participate in the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EaP countries. Let us recall that this visit came to be possible after the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union decided to exclude Uladzimir Makei from the list of people who are forbidden to enter the territory of the EU.

International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) highlighted that this decision was made despite the absence of visible progress in the human rights sphere in Belarus. Twelve political prisoners, including Ales Bialiatski, the head of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” and FIDH Vice-President, remain in prison in result of the politically motivated sentences passed by the Belarusan courts.

Due to Uladzimir Makei’s visit to Brussels FIDH held a demonstration in front of the EU Council. FIDH activists demonstrated posters with the photos and names of the political prisoners, as well as chanted demands to release political prisoners in Belarus. The action was aimed at furthering their release and timed to the Day of Solidarity with the Belarusan civil society, which is to be held on August 4, 2013.