European Parliament president urges Lukashenka to release political prisoners

The President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering on Thursday urged Aliaksandr Lukashenka to release all the political prisoners. The statement was voiced during the opening of the Belarus hearings in th European Parliament on February 8. The EP President noted that due to deterioration of the relations with Russia over the energy resources, "the Belarusian regime has found itself cornered".

But, if Belarus demonstrates its readiness for cooperation with the European Union, the dialogue with the official Minsk should be "consistent and on the basis of stringent conditions."

Hans-Gert Poettering also noted that Europe should continue with th policy of isolatng the representatives of the "undemocratic Belarusian regime", supporting paralelly the civil society, the independent media and the Belarusian students, reports Belorusskiye Novosti.