Statement of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President on Belarus «No to Tyranny»

The Party of European Socialists condemns the arrests and brutal treatment towards Belarussian opposition leaders on the 21st October 2004 in Minsk.

The Party of European Socialists calls for the immediate release of Mikhail Statkevich, leader of the Belarussian Social Democratic Party, Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civil Party, and Pavel Severinets, from the Youth Front. They accompanied hundreds of people peacefully demonstrating against the referendum’s results, under the slogan « No to Tyranny ». The Party of European Socialists expresses its entire solidarity with Belarussian citizens.

The Party of European Socialists joins the OSCE /ODIHR International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) in condemning the referendum results, held on 17th October 2004, as fraudulent and failing to meet international standards for democratic elections. The Belarusssian security forces and the police’s violent repression, beating and harassing of several dozen protestors is unacceptable.

‘It is now time for the European Union to strengthen its policy and to consider appropriate form of sanctions vis-à-vis the Belarussian authorities” says Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President. Belarus is part of the European family of nations but is now becoming isolated and further from its goal of joining the Council of Europe.

The Party of European calls on the European Union to use its political strength towards Belarus for the respect of human rights and democratic freedom.