Chancellor Scholz: release of Belarusian political prisoners still important

August 2, Pozirk. The German federal government will continue to seek the release of all those unjustly imprisoned in Russian and Belarusian prisons because of their political position, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told journalists, commenting on yesterday’s prisoner swap with Russia.
The politician arrived at Cologne-Bonn airport to meet the plane carrying Russian political prisoners and others released as part of a deal with the Kremlin on August 1.
Rico Krieger, a German national sentenced to death in Belarus and pardoned by Alaksandar Łukašenka last month, was among them, yet not a single Belarusian political prisoner was included in the swap. Their release remains an important goal, Scholz stressed.
Berlin urges Moscow and Minsk to release all those unjustly arrested on political grounds, Steffen Hebestreit, spokesman for the German government, said earlier.

BNR Rada on prisoner swap: US, European leaders ignored Belarusians' suffering
- EconomyOver 28 percent report falling income – pollThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBEROC predicts Belarusian economy to cool in medium termThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPotato prices drop nearly 5 percent after months of sharp increasesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka signs edict on fall draftThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyPoland to deport six Belarusians after rapper’s gig – TuskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank justifies current refinance rate. No plans to tighten monetary policyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBus companies suspend numerous routes between Minsk, VilniusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsProsecutors revise upward victim count at Traścianiec death campThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja praises jailed politician Statkievič’s dedication to justice on his birthdayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka: banks should not have “extra” moneyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPakistan's military delegation visiting BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsDefense official accuses West of fueling tensions ahead of Zapad drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsExiled politician calls on opposition to leverage Trump-Putin talksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAmnesty International gathers some 2,000 signatures on petition for Belarusians in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk urges EU to restore good relationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyWarsaw threatens to deport troublemakers after Belarusian rapper’s gigThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMAZ sells only two buses in Russia in JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsEight non-EU nations align with EU sanctions on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+