2001 press releases

U.S. Mission to OSCE on Release of Vladimir Kudinov (February 8, 2001)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would join you and our European Union colleagues in welcoming the release of Mr. Kudinov from prison. We believe this represents an opportunity for Belarus to take further action to end the climate of fear and meet the OSCE criteria for free and fair elections before the presidential elections that are required by law later this year.

We would like to urge our Belarusian colleagues to take full advantage of this opportunity by accounting for the disappeared, respecting freedom of expression and assembly, and releasing other political prisoners.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.