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On 29 September, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy to discuss the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus.

“We reiterate once again that the present ​​civil rights and freedoms situation in Belarus is incompatible with international standards of humanity. More than once the European Union has expressed its opinion on lawless actions of Belarusian undemocratic regime. All possible measures will be taken to make the situation change and to ensure the serious concern of the European Union is heard. Especially after information about the inhuman tortures and violence against political prisoners has been disseminated,” A.Ažubalis stated after the meeting.

A. Ažubalis, Donald Tusk, and G.van Rompuy participate in the EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw.

“The question of Belarusian regime's behavior is marked in red on the agenda of all relevant EU meetings and this will continue until situation in Belarus changes. At the moment the improvements are not visible. This is testified by Belarusian dissidents, whom we daily meet in Vilnius, which has become a center of support for democratization in Belarus. We unanimously send Minsk a message that until the changes are only imitated, the European Union will not start the dialogue,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

Lithuanian delegation also raised questions about violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, release and rehabilitation of political prisoners in Belarus at the OSCE Human Dimension Meeting held in Warsaw, which is attended by representatives of governments, parliaments and non-governmental organizations of  the OSCE countries.

Particular attention was drawn to the position of Andrei Sannikov and Dmitry Dashkevich, since on his way to Warsaw Lithuanian Foreign Minister received information about possible torture, physical and psychical abuse used against them. The Belarusian authorities are urged to stop torture and inhuman treatment immediately and to release the political prisoners without delay.