FIDH reiterated that the human rights situation in Belarus remains catastrophic and that any political dialogue between the EU and Belarus must remain conditioned by the release of political prisoners and reinstatement of their civil and political rights, as well as sustainable systemic changes in the direction of the rule of law and respect for human rights. FIDH called for the EU to remain firm and consistent with the international community in its policy towards Belarus, including the United Nations. As a result of his activities, human rights Defender Ales Bialiatski has been jailed for nearly two years. Mr. Bialiatski is the head of Human Rights Centre Viasna and was reelected in May 2013 as a Vice-President of FIDH.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-CSI) and International Partners for Human Rights(IPHR) joined the protest. The event was covered by international and Belarusian media including Spanish news agency EFE, Radio Free Europe, Belgian news agency Belga , Radio Sweden, Belarusian news agency Belapan, and The Associated Press.
See other pictures of the protest : http://www.flickr.com/photos/fidh-international-federation-for-human-rights/sets/72157634749492276/