Last Thursday, 18 February, marked yet another sad day for the democracy in Belarus when the current government convicted two young journalists for two years of imprisonment after they were first arrested in November 2020.

Back then, the two journalists – 23 and 27 years at the time – were live-streaming the demonstrations taking place in Minsk, when police entered their apartment and arrested them. The journalists are accused of “organising actions rudely violating public order”.

ALDE Party President Hans van Baalen strongly condemns this arrest and demands for the country’s crackdown on journalists to end. President van Baalen calls upon EU leaders to take urgent action against Lukashenko’s dictatorship.

🇪🇺 I call upon EU leaders to act and make sure this crackdown on innocent journalists and civilians ends.
Lukashenko’s dictatorship and illiberal policies must be stopped.
🔴⚪️ Belarus belongs to the people and their leader @Tsihanouskaya @JosepBorrellF @vonderleyen @ALDEParty https://t.co/Ur7mspEIzJ

— Hans van Baalen (@hansvanbaalen) February 18, 2021