#Belarus - 'We are witnessing repression by the authorities against the civilian population'

Today (7 September), reports came in that a number of Belarussian opposition leaders, including one of the more well-known faces of the United Opposition - Maria Kalesnikova, have been kidnapped in central Minsk by unidentified masked men.

The EU High Representative condemned the actions on Twitter: “Arbitrary arrests and kidnappings on political grounds in Belarus, including this morning's brutal actions against Andrei Yahorau, Irina Sukhiy & Maria Kalesnikova, are unacceptable. State authorities must stop intimidating citizens & violating their own laws and int. obligations.”

EU Reporter asked the EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Peter Stano, if they were aware of the detention of opposition leaders. The spokesperson said that while the EU was establishing all the facts, they were aware of the reports of political activists going missing.

Stano stated: “What we are witnessing in Belarus is basically continued repression by the authorities against the civilian population, against the peaceful protesters, political activists, and people who want to have their voice heard. This is completely unacceptable.

“The EU was very, very clear in our statements that we consider the actions of the authorities in Belarus unacceptable.” The EU is calling on all people who have been detained for political reasons to be released immediately.”

The EU continues to work on a sanction list. Asked if the sanctions were closer to being put in place - given that the decision to impose sanctions was agreed ten days ago - the spokesperson said that the procedures took time but that it was only a question of when they would be introduced.

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