BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

16/08/2008

US applauds Belarus release of opposition politician

AFP

Washington welcomed Saturday the release of Belarus' highest-profile political prisoner, former presidential candidate Alexander Kozulin.

"The United States welcomes the release today of Belarus political opposition figure Alexander Kozulin," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.

"We look forward to other positive steps from the Belarusian authorities that could open the possibility of a significant improvement in relations between the United States and Belarus," McCormack said.

Relations between Washington and Minsk have been strained especially since the 2006 reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, when rival candidate Kozulin was jailed after leading a protest over alleged corruption in the polling.

On a visit to Latvia in May 2005, US President George W. Bush described Belarus as "the last remaining dictatorship in Europe."

Source:

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_applauds_Belarus_release_of_oppo_08162008.html

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