Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), issued the following statement following the detention in Minsk of Alyaksandr Milinkevich and other opposition leaders:
"I am deeply disturbed by the arrest and imprisonment of Mr Alyaksandr Milinkevich and other opposition leaders for taking part in a rally, as well as of others exercising their legitimate political rights. I urge the Belarusian authorities to release and rehabilitate them immediately. I also reiterate the EU's call to the Belarusian authorities to swiftly liberate all political prisoners previously detained, including Mr Alyaksandr Kazulin."