Belarusian political prisoners are in the focus of attention at the book fair in Gothenburg.

During the book fair in Gothenburg the human rights organization Östgruppen organized a seminar “Political prisoners in the center of Europe”. During the seminar, the floor was taken by the Östgruppen chairman Martin Uggla and photographer and journalist Maria Sodeberg, who talked about Ales Bialiatski and Mikalai Statkevich.

Martin Uggla urged politicians in Sweden and the European Union to act more consistently and fundamentally against the Belarusian regime.

-It is important, of course, to demand the release of political prisoners, but this is not enough. The EU should also require changes at the system level. Free and fair political elections should be held. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association should be respected. Otherwise, it is impossible to speak of any democratic progress in Belarus, – noted Mr. Uggla.

svaboda.org