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
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus’ car sales fall in JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkraine sets up directorate for unfriendly states, including BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsProgram of New Belarus conferenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyTwo Belarusians arrested in Batumi, accused of drug possessionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Volunteer fighter's brother has not filed appeal against sentenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: cancer patient endures brutal detentionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyMemorial for Belarusian poet Łarysa Hienijuš canceled amid pro-Russian backlashThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityPoland reports “extremely aggressive” behavior by migrants at Belarus’ borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyAnother MAZ bus catches fire in RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyProlonged cold spells harm Belarus’ agricultureThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights activists report spike in prosecutions over 2020 protestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsBelarus worst-performing in eradicating torture for sixth consecutive yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus’ top diplomat rails against “digital colonialism” at BRICS summitThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: agents attempt to infiltrate Cichanoŭski’s teamThe material is available only to POZIRK+