EP delegation meets with opposition leaders in Minsk

On June 19, in Minsk, the delegation of the European Parliament met with the opposition leaders. The meeting was attended by the co-chairman of the organizing committee of the party Belarusian Christian Democracy Pavel Sevyarynets, chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the civil campaign Tell the Truth Andrey Dzmitryieu, chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada) Iryna Veshtard and deputy chairman of the Belarusian Left Party Fair World Valery Ukhnaliou. The delegation of the European Parliament included the head of the working group on relations with Belarus Bogdan Zdrojewski, deputy Sandra Kalniete, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Marek Jurek, Heidi Hautala, Nils Torvalds, Agnieszka Kozlowska and Andrejs Mamikins.

They talked about the upcoming presidential elections in Belarus and the assistance from the EU, BelaPAN reports. Opposition activists noted the pressure that has been exercised on members of initiative groups. The EU guests were given proposals for the holding of elections that were also previously sent to the Belarusian authorities.

Those present also discussed the financial assistance of the EU to Belarus. Mr Lyabedzka commented on the fact that the grant of 700 thousand for the benefit of the judiciary in Belarus, "which does not satisfy international standards, or 7 million to local government are bad examples." The politician believes that the European Commission is perceiving the situation in our country in a strange way and not always understands what projects should be supported. Bogdan Zdrojewski said that they will discuss this issue with officials from Brussels.

The European Parliament delegation is in Belarus on a two-day visit. They had a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Election Commission, the Ministry of Justice and the Council of the Republic.

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