You're reading: EU again assails Belarus over political prisoners issue

BRUSSELS - The European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has criticized Belarus again, saying there is no place for political prisoners in present-day Europe.

All political prisoners should be immediately freed and
rehabilitated, the current policy of reprisals must be reviewed and free
and honest parliamentary elections must be held in September, Ashton
said after talks with Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov.

The European Union’s signal issued to Belarus is clear, she said.
There is no place for political prisoners in the heart of Europe, she
added.

The EU had earlier criticized Belarus on many occasions for human
rights abuses, and it imposed an entry ban on some Belarusian officials
and froze Belarusian assets in protest.