"Unfortunately Belarus is Europe’s last dictatorship. The fundamental freedoms of the citizens of this country, including religious freedoms, are not respected by the authorities": Hans-Gert Poettering, president of the European Parliament, received in Brussels today a delegation of the Belarusian democratic opposition, headed by Alexander Milinkevich, winner of the 2006 Sakharov Award, and Pawel Seviarynets, co-president of the Christian Democratic Party. The purpose of the visit was to submit a petition signed by over 50 thousand people, invoking respect for freedoms of cult in the European country. Now, Poettering will submit the appeal to the Commission for Petitions of the EU Assembly. Poettering pointed out that he was pleased to receive the petition, then he made an appeal to the Belarusian authorities to "free all political prisoners, such as Alexander Kazulin, repeal death penalty, let the media work freely". The president of the Assembly asked for "independence for judges, the citizens’ right to freely appoint their own representatives", as well as "respect for democratic values and human rights".
