TALLINN, Aug 18, BNS - Estonia welcomes the release of Alexander Kozulin, a leader of the Belarus opposition, but finds that it is only the first step in the improvement of the situation.
"The release of Alexander Kozulin is a positive move, but the situation with the granting of human rights and civic liberties in Belarus still needs improvement," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson told BNS. "Kozulin's release could be the first move in the improvement of the situation."
Kozulin, who ran in the previous presidential elections, was released from prison after the Belarus leader, Alexander Lukashenka, had pardoned him.
Kozulin was arrested two years ago on charges of the organization of an unlawful demonstration.
The United States and the European Union have already welcomed the release of the opposition politician.
But Stanislav Shushkevich, a leader of the Belarussian Social-Democratic Party, has expressed the opinion that this could be a PR campaign of Lukashenka, called the last dictator in Europe, in order to attempt to improve his reputation in the eyes of the West.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee
