Democratic opposition sets up negotiating group to free political prisoners

February 15, BPN. The Belarusian opposition is ready to negotiate with the regime for the release of political prisoners, but under a set of conditions, the opposition’s social care secretary Volha Harbunova told a Zoom press conference on February 14.

“It is important that the conditions in places of detention begin to change for the better, that the authorities stop repression and release political prisoners on humanitarian grounds, such as people with disabilities, of retirement age, minors and parents with many children,” Harbunova said.

“We are setting up a negotiating group on the release of political prisoners. We need help from the international community. But it is too early to say that the regime has made steps in terms of willingness to negotiate,” she added.

The politician said she consulted with international partners who had experience in negotiating the release of jailed dissidents in various countries.