EU High Representative Catherine Ashton reminded on March 18 that the list of the Belarusian officials, banned from entering the EU, remains open. "The EU will keep on including Belarusian officials such as judges and prosecutors, directly involved in the imposition of penalty for political reasons and repression against civil society," in the official list of banned," she said.
«In addition, depending on developments in Belarus, the EU is willing to consider new targeted measures in all areas of cooperation,» said Catherine Ashton.
As reported by the EU mission in Belarus, «the European Union condemns prolonged detention, courts and sentences for political reasons upon civil society and opposition leaders, including former presidential candidates, in the context of the election on December 19, 2010.
The EU is also concerned about «allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, intimidation and irregularities during the trials.» Catherine Ashton called on the Belarusian authorities to fully cooperate with the UN High Commissioner and the mechanisms of the UN Council on Human Rights, as well as to reverse the decision not to extend the mandate of the OSCE office in Minsk.
In the opinion of the High Representative of the EU, the human rights situation is getting worse in Belarus and the authorities of the country keep on violating their basic international obligations, regarding freedom of speech and assembly, the right to a fair trial and the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
«The EU continues to closely monitor developments in this regard, and reiterates its demand for the Belarusian authorities’ immediate and unconditional release and rehabilitation of all those detained for political reasons,» said Catherine Ashton.
According to Telegraf, March 21, the European Union expands a list of Belarusian officials, banned from entering its territory, to 19 people. This was stated by a spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry Susanne Schutz at the meeting with the executive secretary of the organizing committee for the creation of the «Belarusian Christian Democracy» Dennis Sadovski on March 16.
