Kazulin freed

Alexandr Kazulin, one of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition, has been released.  His daughter reports that he was let out to attend his father-in-law’s funeral which is to take place on Sunday.

However Russian information agencies report that he has been pardoned by a special Presidential decree. A Radio Svoboda correspondent reports that Mr Kazulin’s release was one of the prerequisites for any improvement in relations between Belarus and western countries.

The opposition leader was sentenced in 2006 to five and a half years imprisonment, accused of “hooliganism and organizing mass disturbances” after he took part in protests over infringements during the Presidential elections in March.

EU countries, together with the United States, are demanding the release of all political prisoners.