WARSAW, October 1 (Itar-Tass) — Participants in the summit of the initiative Eastern Partnership have condemned the situation in Belarus, as follows from a declaration adopted on Friday following a meeting of the heads of state and government of the EU countries, as well as the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and the prime minister of Moldova.
The heads of state and government and representatives of the European Union and countries participating in the program (except for Belarus) expressed their deep concern over the situation with human rights, laws and democratic standards in Belarus, condemned the continued violations of the freedom of the press and encouraged the immediate release and rehabilitation of political prisoners, an end to the suppression of civil society and media and the beginning of a political dialogue with the opposition, the declaration says.
The EU is also deeply concerned about reports that prisoners were denied an opportunity to meet with their families and lawyers, as well as representatives of the media, and were subjected to psychological and physical pressure, the document says.
At the summit of the initiative Eastern Partnership there were held several parallel meetings of its members with the Belarusian opposition. The official delegation of Belarus on Friday refused to participate in the summit.