Swedish Deputy Ambassador David Emtestam arrested in Minsk. Photo: Reuters

Deputy ambassador (Second Secretary) David Emtestam, who is now in charge of the Swedish Embassy in Belarus, since the ambassador Stefan Eriksson is on vacation, was on wednesday arrested and beaten in Minsk while observing the protests against the regime.

It’s usual that embassy staff observe protests, since it’s part of their work in the country to follow the political development.

The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the fact that he was arrested. They also confirm that Emtestam was attacked and kicked by special forces. He was then released shortly after showing his diplomatic ID to a police officer.

For more information:

Viasna Human Rights Center (Belarus)

SVT

SVD

Aftonbladet

DN

Ekot

På www.charter97.org har det i dagarna publicerats en intervju med Sveriges ambassadör Stefan Eriksson angående lokalvalet i Belarus.

Eriksson påpekar att något helt klart inte stämmer med resultatet, eftersom kandidater som nästan inte fått några röster alls under förtidsröstningen senare har fått över 50% röster under själva valdagen. Det går helt enkelt inte ihop, varken logiskt eller matematiskt.

”According to the laws of logics and mathematics, these figures do not agree, if we do not presume that people from another planet took part in the voting.”

Klicka här för att läsa hela intervjun.