Lithuania condemns repressions directed against ecologists in Belarus

They condemn the detention and administrative arrest of Belarusian ecologist Tatstsyana Novikava and Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Azharovski.

Let us remind you that Novikava and Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Azharovski were detained together. Ecologist Iryna Suhiy and Mihail Matskevich were detained a bit later. All of them were accused of petty hooliganism. They all are anti-nuclear movement activists. They had been planning to present their appeals not to sign the general NPP construction contract to the Russian Embassy on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the contract was signed during the visit of the Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev to Minsk and the ecologists found themselves behind bars. Azharovski was imprisoned for 10 days and Matskevich - for three. Iryna Suhiy was fined for 1.5 million roubles.

Lithuanian ecological organizations have urged the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs to take all the necessary measures to help release the ecologists.