Latvia praises Belarus for its release of political prisoners

The Latvian Foreign Ministry has praised the release of six political prisoners in Belarus on August 22.

Considered the last political prisoners in the post-Soviet republic, among those pardoned by Belarusian President, Aleksandr Lukashenko, was former opposition presidential candidate, Nikolai Statekevich, who spent almost five years in prison.

Seen as a positive step, the Latvian FoMin believes the decision will have a positive effect on the further development of relations between the European Union and Belarus.

Following the political prisoners’ release, the Foreign Ministry hopes the Belarusian presidential elections scheduled for October 11 this year, will be free and democratic and will take place in accordance with international election standards.

The EU had set the freeing of political prisoners as a condition for easing economic sanctions on Belarus, which were imposed after Lukashenko's government violently suppressed protests on the night of the 2010 presidential election.

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