Ulf Kristersson calls for the release of Nikolaj Kazlou

The leader of UCP, the main centre-right party of Belarus and long time partner of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation, was detained by Belarusian police on March 22nd. Nikolaj Kazlou has since been taken to the Akrestyna detention center, known for its brutality and torture of political prisoners. With the arrest of Kazlou, approximately 298 political prisoners are now detained or arrested in Belarus.

 The leader of the Moderate Party, Ulf Kristersson, has called for the release of Kazlou and other political prisoners. In a statement released Tuesday evening, Mr. Kristersson said that it is crucial for the world community and the European Union to continue the political pressure on the dictatorship in Belarus. ”The democratic movement in Belarus has shown unprecedented courage, and the democratic world must stand by their side”, Mr. Kristersson emphasized.