03:43A spokesperson for the German government said EU members have discussed sanctions against Belarusian leaders, saying Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded prisoners be released immediately, during a press conference in Berlin, on Monday.
"In the circle of EU states, we have already advised about sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations. How these sanctions will be organised and if there will be further restrictive measures is dependable upon the further behaviour of the Belarusian authorities. Naturally we also see here the option to extend those sanctions towards other responsible persons as well," said spokesperson Steffen Seibert, saying of the protesters, "those people should know that Europe is on their side and will look very closely how exactly they have been dealing with them."
"As for the government and the Chancellor [Angela Merkel] personally, the main concerns in this situation are, firstly the authorities must renounce the use of further violence against peaceful demonstrators, secondly the political prisoners must be immediately and unconditionally released, and thirdly a national dialogue is necessary between the government, opposition and society to overcome this crisis. An important role could be assumed by the OECD [Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] with a review of the elections," he added.
Seibert also said the German government has been in contact with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the disputed August 9 presidential election that saw Lukashenko re-elected for a sixth term.
Germany: 'Europe is on their side' - govt spox on Belarusian protesters
A spokesperson for the German government said EU members have discussed sanctions against Belarusian leaders, saying Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded prisoners be released immediately, during a press conference in Berlin, on Monday.
"In the circle of EU states, we have already advised about sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations. How these sanctions will be organised and if there will be further restrictive measures is dependable upon the further behaviour of the Belarusian authorities. Naturally we also see here the option to extend those sanctions towards other responsible persons as well," said spokesperson Steffen Seibert, saying of the protesters, "those people should know that Europe is on their side and will look very closely how exactly they have been dealing with them."
"As for the government and the Chancellor [Angela Merkel] personally, the main concerns in this situation are, firstly the authorities must renounce the use of further violence against peaceful demonstrators, secondly the political prisoners must be immediately and unconditionally released, and thirdly a national dialogue is necessary between the government, opposition and society to overcome this crisis. An important role could be assumed by the OECD [Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] with a review of the elections," he added.
Seibert also said the German government has been in contact with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the disputed August 9 presidential election that saw Lukashenko re-elected for a sixth term.
A spokesperson for the German government said EU members have discussed sanctions against Belarusian leaders, saying Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded prisoners be released immediately, during a press conference in Berlin, on Monday.
"In the circle of EU states, we have already advised about sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations. How these sanctions will be organised and if there will be further restrictive measures is dependable upon the further behaviour of the Belarusian authorities. Naturally we also see here the option to extend those sanctions towards other responsible persons as well," said spokesperson Steffen Seibert, saying of the protesters, "those people should know that Europe is on their side and will look very closely how exactly they have been dealing with them."
"As for the government and the Chancellor [Angela Merkel] personally, the main concerns in this situation are, firstly the authorities must renounce the use of further violence against peaceful demonstrators, secondly the political prisoners must be immediately and unconditionally released, and thirdly a national dialogue is necessary between the government, opposition and society to overcome this crisis. An important role could be assumed by the OECD [Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] with a review of the elections," he added.
Seibert also said the German government has been in contact with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the disputed August 9 presidential election that saw Lukashenko re-elected for a sixth term.