ON BEHALF OF LITHUANIA AMBASSADOR IN MINSK APOLOGIZED THE SPOUSE OF ARRESTED BELARUSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
On 8 August Lithuanian Ambassador to Belarus Edminas Bagdonas conveyed to Natalya Pinchuk the wife of the head of Belarusian NGO "Vesna" Ales Belyatsky Lithuania’s apologies for the misunderstanding that had occured.
The Ambassador informed that Lithuania considered the incident very serious and temporarily suspended the provision of legal assistance under a bilateral treaty.According to E.Bagdonas, Lithuania disapproves the use of bilateral legal cooperation instruments for political purposes and for the prosecution of civil society.
He also met with the chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhanna Litvina, head of the Helsinki Committee Oleg Gulak and board member of "Vesna", temporarily leading the organization Vladimir Labkovich.
At the meeting the current situation was discussed and it was stressed that Lithuania will take all possible measures to search for solutions to this problem.
A.Belyatsky was arrested on 4 August, 2011, and the premises of the Human Rights Centre "Vesna" were searched.
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis condemned the arrest of A. Belyatsky, calling it another example of the persecution of the opposition in Belarus.
Lithuania, together with EU partners will continue to seek actively the release of political prisoners in Belarus.
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