Written question asked by Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 29 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 April 2006. It was answered by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Thursday, 20 April 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Belarus

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the UK Government has made representations to the Government of Belarus in the past 12 months regarding oppression of people on the grounds of religious belief in that country.

Answer: [holding answer of 18 April 2006]: The Government continues to raise human rights issues with the Belarusian authorities, both bilaterally and together with EU partners. During the past 12 months we raised the case of one Protestant church on four separate occasions and restrictions on freedom of worship in general on at least 12 occasions. Freedom of worship was also referred to in a resolution critical of Belarus' human rights record sponsored by the EU at the April 2005 UN Commission on Human Rights. Our ambassador in Minsk also met with leaders of churches under pressure from the authorities to hear their concerns.

Secondary information