Eastern Partnership to defend expelled youth activist from Belarus?
Leanid Kozik, chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, who recently in Brussels promissed to stage an action in central Minsk in support of Tatsiana Shaputska, has departed to Belarusachka sanatorium for repair works after an accident.
The first meeting of the organizing committee in support of Tatsiana Shaputska, the press secretary of Malady Front youth pressure group, expelled from the Belarus State University, will take place today at the office of the Belarusian Popular Front, Malady Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich told the European Radio for Belarus
Zmitser Dashkevich: “We are holding the first meeting of the organizing committee to defend Tatsiana Shaputska. Milinkevich, Paganiayla, Seviarynets, Bialiatski, Ina Kulei and other human rights activists and public figures have agreed to join the committee. Also, Siarhei Matskevich who attended the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and is the head of the political section there. We will discuss how to resolve this problem and help Tatsiana”.
According to Dashkevich, Tatsiana Shaputska was expelled because she took part in the forum in Brussels on November 16-17. Leanid Kozik who chairs the Federation of Trade Unions publicly promised to stage a personal action in central Minsk support of Tatsiana. However, now that she has been expelled, Kozik cannot be reached on the phone.
The European Radio for Belarus tried to reach the trade union leader, but his secretary told us that Kozik left for a sanatorium allegedly to check repair works after an accident.
When asked what kind of accident was that she said: "Does it really matter? He is not around".
Zmitser Dashkevich says the situation is followed by Benita Ferrero-Waldner and foreign ministers of EU member states. He hopes Tatsiana will be reinstated at the Belarus State University.
Photo: Radio Svaboda
The first meeting of the organizing committee in support of Tatsiana Shaputska, the press secretary of Malady Front youth pressure group, expelled from the Belarus State University, will take place today at the office of the Belarusian Popular Front, Malady Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich told the European Radio for Belarus
Zmitser Dashkevich: “We are holding the first meeting of the organizing committee to defend Tatsiana Shaputska. Milinkevich, Paganiayla, Seviarynets, Bialiatski, Ina Kulei and other human rights activists and public figures have agreed to join the committee. Also, Siarhei Matskevich who attended the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and is the head of the political section there. We will discuss how to resolve this problem and help Tatsiana”.
According to Dashkevich, Tatsiana Shaputska was expelled because she took part in the forum in Brussels on November 16-17. Leanid Kozik who chairs the Federation of Trade Unions publicly promised to stage a personal action in central Minsk support of Tatsiana. However, now that she has been expelled, Kozik cannot be reached on the phone.
The European Radio for Belarus tried to reach the trade union leader, but his secretary told us that Kozik left for a sanatorium allegedly to check repair works after an accident.
When asked what kind of accident was that she said: "Does it really matter? He is not around".
Zmitser Dashkevich says the situation is followed by Benita Ferrero-Waldner and foreign ministers of EU member states. He hopes Tatsiana will be reinstated at the Belarus State University.
Photo: Radio Svaboda
