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The Czech consulate in Minsk does not collect visa fees from some Belarussians in support of civic society and democratisation effort in the country, Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman Vit Kolar told CTK Friday.

He said the decision on the exemption is made by the ambassador.

In the first half of last year, one fifth of Belarussian students and other young people, representatives of civic society and scientists were exempted from the fee, Kolar said.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg will on Monday receive representatives of the Belarussian opposition that organises a new wave of protests after the autocratic Alexandr Lukashenko was re-elected president recently.

“With regard for the developments after the presidential election, the Czech Republic will consider further possibilities of easing the visa procedure for Belarussian citizens,” Kolar said.

He said the Czech Republic is striving on EU level for decreasing the current fees from 60 euros to 35 euros, which Ukrainians and Moldovans pay.

The Czech Republic introduced entry visas for Belarusssians in 2000. Since the Czech Republic entered the EU in 2004, the Czech consulate has issued “Schengen visas.”

Czech diplomacy has maintained direct contacts with representatives of Belarussian society, supported Belarussian human rights fighters and invited them to Prague for a long time.

Before the Belarussian presidential elections, Uladzimir Nyaklyayev, the best known opposition presidential candidate, visited Prague. Nyaklyayev was arrested after the elections.

The Foreign Ministry has said his daughter Eva will arrive in Prague.

The Czech Republic supports the Belarussian opposition. Since 2004 it has offered aid in creating and strengthening democratic institutions, the rule of law and proper management of public finances within the programme of transformation cooperation.

The Czech Republic also supports the European radio for Belarus within support to Belarussian independent media.

Another important project is aid to the Belarussian house of human rights in Vilnius.

Since 2000 the Czech Republic has provided several government scholarships for Belarussian students, including those who were persecuted for their opinions.

Czech authorities also deal with Belarussian asylum applications. Fifty-six Belarussians were included in asylum proceedings as from October 2010.

The EU foreign ministers are to deal with the situation in the post-Soviet Belarus soon. Four of the ministers, including Schwarzenberg, called on the EU in December to stop coming closer toBelarus.

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