Aliaksandr Milinkevich’s Statement Concerning Criminal Persecution of Kanstantsin Lukashou

I want to express my indignation with the fact that the public activist Kanstantsin Lukashou has been given charges and is still kept in an investigative isolator.

I am of the opinion that the criminal case that was brought against him under article ‘resistance to the police’ is a politically motivated. These actions are aimed at intimidation of the Belarusian society and witness strengthening of persecution for political convictions. I’d like to turn your attention to the fact that Kanstantsin Lukashou became the first political prisoner after November 2006, when the EU proposed a new strategy of cooperation to Belarus. One of the conditions for improvement of contacts between Belarus and Europe is release of all political prisoners in our country. Pitifully enough, the governing regime once again demonstrated to the united Europe and the Belarusian people its reluctance to respect fundamental democratic norms.

I express my solidarity with Kanstantsin and his family and apply to the officials who are responsible for his detention with the demand of his discharge. I also apply to all political and public bodies of Belarus with the request to join this claim.

Freedom to Lukashou!

Freedom to political prisoners!