Dear Ms Catherine Ashton,
I am writing to you in your capacity as the European Union's High Representative for External Relations, to appeal to you to put all possible pressure on President Lukashenka to immediately release the hundreds of prisoners arrested after the election on Sunday 19 December.
Among those arrested were the founders of the Belarus Free Theatre with whom the European Cultural Foundation has had a long relationship. They are committed to Europe and the fundamental values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law. They have been a driving force for change in Belarus. These community leaders and their fellow protesters need all of our support.
The values and beliefs that we hold dear are threatened at our doorstep and those with whom we work closely to ensure an open, free and democratic future have been violently attacked. Many people across Europe support them, and many will address their respective national media, politicians, and EU authorities. In this message we must stand firm and united.
This is certainly a personal plea on my behalf but also as Director of the European Cultural Foundation and as a voice from our network of cultural organisations across Europe all of whom are deeply concerned about the recent events in Belarus.
Yours sincerely,
Katherine Watson
Director of the European Cultural Foundation
