Entrepreneurs appeal to Benita Fererro-Waldner

Entrepreneurs Ihar Lednik and Uladzimir Zhurba sent an appeal on June 16 to Benita Fererro-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, calling for interaction between the European Commission and the representatives of business and civil society in Belarus in the framework of the Eastern Partnership program. The entrepreneurs wrote in their appeal that at least 10000 people remain in Belarus prisons, convicted under the 'economic' articles in the Penal Code. The statement said that entrepreneurs "are being harassed in the interests of the Russian-Belarus nomenclature".

They also expressed hope that during her visit in Belarus on June 21-22, Benita Fererro-Waldner could find an opportunity to discuss with the representatives of business and civil society the issues of practical interaction with the European Commission in order to restore the rule of law and "to resist the Russian expansion" in Belarus.