BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

01.08.2005

Top Polish politician shows solidarity with Poles in Belarus

Presidential candidate and deputy speaker of Parliament Donald Tusk goes to Belarus to demonstrate solidarity with leaders of the country's ethnic Polish minority. Last week, Belarus special services took over the headquarters of the Association of Poles in Grodno and stripped its leader Andzelika Borys of her title. The crackdown on the Association comes on the heels of a series of high-level diplomatic expulsions between Poland and Belarus. Warsaw recalled Poland's ambassador from Minsk for consultation.

On his visit to Belarus Donald Tusk is accompanied by two Polish members of the European Parliament. Responding to a call by Poland for action in the wake of the violations of civil and minority rights in Belarus, the European Union has condemned President Lukaszenko's authoritarian rule and earmarked millions of euros to promote civil society and free media in the country.

Source:

http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=25687&j=2