EU states 'grave concern' at Belarus pre-election crackdown

Mar 30, 2010, 11:13 GMT

Brussels - The European Union's 27 member states expressed their 'grave concern' Tuesday at Belarus' crackdown on democratic groups ahead of local elections on April 25, warning that relations with Minsk could suffer if the repressions continue.

The EU wants to improve ties with Belarus to strengthen the bloc's influence beyond its eastern border, but is torn between offering concessions and threatening sanctions in response to repeated violations of human rights.

The EU 'expresses grave concern over the recent harassment of representatives of independent media, civil society and opposition organizations' in the run-up to the April elections, the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said in a statement endorsed by all 27 EU states.

The EU 'reiterates that its readiness to further deepen relations with Belarus will depend on concrete steps in Belarus towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law,' the statement warned.

In particular, the bloc would 'follow closely the conduct of the local elections,' to which it 'attaches great importance,' the statement said.

Belarus is one of the six members of the EU's 'Eastern Partnership,' a programme which offers former Soviet states trade and travel liberalization in return for economic and political reforms.

But it is by far the most controversial member of the group, accused of regularly breaching human rights and democratic rules.

In recent years, President Alexander Lukashenko has steered a path between the EU and Russia, trying to win economic concessions from both sides while keeping his domestic power base intact.

That has led him into conflict with both Moscow and Brussels at varying times.