Lukashenko rejects Polish offer over political prisoners: report

July 8, 2011

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Thursday rejected a proposal by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski offering EU advice on economic reforms in return for Belarus freeing political prisoners, Polish media reported.
"I've no intention of bargaining with anyone," Lukashenko, whose country has been struggling with economic problems, was quoted as saying by Polish media.
Belarusian security services detained around 400 people staging protests across the country Wednesday evening, Poland's PAP news agency reported, quoting the Wiasna rights group and the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
Demonstrators swapping information on social networking sites have been gathering on Wednesdays for several weeks to protest against Lukashenko's authoritarian regime. Instead of shouting slogans they have clapped or stamped their feet.

Source: The Warsaw Voice