( dpa ) - Germany Tuesday welcomed the temporary release from prison on compassionate grounds of Belarussian dissident and opposition politician Alexander Kozulin.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed "satisfaction" at the decision by the authorities to free Kozulin for three days so that he could attend the funeral of his wife Irina, who died over the weekend after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Steinmeier said the decision was linked to the release of five political prisoners this year.
"I hope that the Belarussian government will release Mr Kozulin finally and without condition," he said.
Steinmeier called on Belarus to free all its political prisoners, so that relations with the European Union could be revived.