INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST MEETING CONDEMNS POLICE BRUTALITY IN BELARUS (Vilnius 26th March 2017)

We the delegates to the international journalist conference in Vilnius 24-26th March 2017 strongly protest against the continuing police arrest of Belarussian and foreign journalists in Minsk.

We demand immediate release of those detained and demand judicial investigation of police brutality and other misconduct against those arrested.

We demand that the rule of law is upheld to safeguard freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in Belarus. These police actions damage the already tarnished image of Belarus as a modern democratic nation.

Bill Schiller, editor of "Erato" of the ILGCN (rainbow culture international) and of Tupilak (Nordic rainbow culture workers).