OSCE Recognized Kazulin Political Prisoner

21.07.2006.

The head of the working group on Belarus of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, a deputy chairperson of the faction of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) on foreign policy Uta Zapf has called the former candidate for presidency in Belarus, Alyaksandr Kazulin, a political prisoner.

As is noted in the statement of Uta Zapf, quoted by the BelaPAN, the verdict to the former candidate for presidency has exceeded the worst expectations of the German side. The Belarusian system of justice has many times demonstrated that it is not independent, the German politician has underlined. She indicated that the verdict to Kazulin is incommensurate, politically motivated and does not correspond to democratic norms. On behalf of the SPD Uta Zapf urged the Belarusian authorities to revise judgement to Kazulin.

The representative of the PA OSCE confirmed that she would continue to follow the developments in the cases of other political prisoners and oppositionists in Belarus, in particular, of Syarhei Skrabets and Mikalay Statkevich. She has called upon the Belarusian government to release them all. Belarus is a member of the OSCE, that has commitments in the spheres of human rights, democracy, freedom of speech and press. Release of all political prisoners could become an important foundation for rapprochement with Europe, Uta Zapf said.
Source: www.charter97.org