After a study visit to Belarus by several political youth organizations from different countries ten activists were arrested and imprisoned by the Belarusian regime because of their political beliefs. An international delegation conducted this study visit to Minsk on January 10th-13th, supported by the European Youth Foundation. After the delegation's departure, ten members of the hosting organizations Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) Youth and the Young Front (Malady Front) were arrested and detained. These people are Franak Viachorka, Anton Kalinouski, Yuras Stankevich, Uladzimir Syarheew, Kasya Krasnova, Lyudmila Atakulava, Kasya Halitskaya, Maksim Vyarnyanski, Paval Kuryanovich and Volha Kulyakevich.

These ten young people were arrested and have been sentenced to as much as 15 days in prison without any justified verdict - for "using bad language". Some of them were even beaten by the police in order to extract confessions to having participated in a peaceful demonstration.

Such tyrannical repressions are conducted by the Belarusian government against the actions of the democratic opposition youth. Europe should not keep its eyes closed.

We call upon the European Union to take immediate action for the immediate release of these young people who are being held as political prisoners.

We urge you along with all persons, institutions and organizations around Europe who stand for freedom and human rights to mobilize for the human rights of the people of Belarus, especially after these days' events.