March 29, National Council of the Slovak Republic condemned the violent acts on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk on December 19, 2010, as well as "gross abuse of political and police authorities against their innocent and defenseless citizens by the Belarusian political regime." 105 out of 125 MPs voted for the text of a statement, proposed by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Slovak side «is watching with concern the political developments in Belarus, following the presidential election last year, the arrests of political opponents and civil society activists, who are still in prison of the Belarusian regime.»
The MPs called on President Alexander Lukashenko to immediately release all opposition detainees and lift all the charges from them. They also recommended the government and the President of Slovakia to demand liberation of Belarusian prisoners, whom they regard as political, during bilateral and multilateral meetings.
Deputy Chairman of the Slovak Parliament Wants to Come to Belarus
March 30, Belarusian Ambassador to Slovakia, Vladimir Serpico, received Deputy Chairman of the National Council of Slovakia, Pavel Grushovskogo, and chairman of the Christian Democratic Party of Slovakia, Jan Figel, who handed him the statement, adopted by the Slovak parliament.
As noted in the diplomatic mission, the Belarusian ambassador brought the «objective information about events, taken place in Minsk on December 19, 2010.» «Mr. Ambassador, has presented his vision of the political situation in Belarus, which he considers relevant to democratic standards,» said Pavel Grushovsky.
He also expressed his wish to visit Belarus in the near future in order to meet with representatives of the Belarusian parliament, the opposition and nongovernmental organizations.
«That’s his part and duty to defend our country, which, according to him, needs time and understanding to gradually strengthen the independence and democratic institutions,» said Jan Figel.
He said that Slovakia was concerned at «brutal suppression of freedom» in Belarus. According to Jan Figel, his party is worried about the fate of the Belarusian opposition and, in particular, representatives of the BCD. «Responsibility does not end at the national borders,» he said.
