Czech foreign minister says repressions in Ukraine must stop

Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek has said the repressions in Ukraine must stop. Speaking at a press briefing in Prague on Friday the Czech foreign minister said the international community could not close its eyes to the torture, threats and beatings to which political opponents were being subjected in Ukraine. Mr. Zaorálek said that the 20th century provided ample proof of the danger of ignoring oppression which left unchallenged would spiral out of control. He called on the Ukrainian leadership to release all detained activists, search for the missing and punish those responsible. He said the Czech side was ready to provide humanitarian aid to the injured and financially support the democratic transformation process in Ukraine.