MEPs: We Must Support Belarusian Opposition
- 29.03.2017, 16:35
Money is not to be given to Lukashenka.
72 deputies of the European Parliament (nearly one-tenth of its composition) sent a letter about the situation in Belarus to the presidents of the European Council and the European Parliament, the President and Vice-President of the European Commission and the European Commissioners on neighbouring issues.
MEP Petras Auštrevičius’ assistant has passed over the text of the letter to Svaboda.
The MPs pay attention to the events of 25 March and 26 March, as well as the previous events, when more than a thousand civilians, including human rights defenders and journalists, women and pensioners, politicians and protest leaders were detained, beaten or arrested in Belarus.
The signers of the letter claim that the arrested peaceful protesters must be immediately released from detention and the charges against them must be dropped.
They draw attention to the fact that the repressive actions of the Belarusian authorities concurred with the first anniversary of the EU's decision on the "restart" of relations with Belarus.
"Unfortunately, it once again confirms the need for greater attention to the thoughts and positions of the Belarusian civil society and democratic opposition, which expressed obvious doubt regarding Lukashenka’s sincerity in ensuring the democratization of domestic policy and easing of the regime," – the letter reads.
Also the authors of the letter pay attention to the fact that after the lifting of sanctions, "another rigged elections were held" (the "house of representatives" elections in September of 2016), a number of death sentences were pronounced.
Therefore, the signatories of the letter "convinced of the need for a fundamental change in the policies of the European Union towards Lukashenka's regime".
They write that the EU must increase support to the civil society, independent media and the democratic forces of Belarus by the complete suspension of financial support of the Belarusian government and other state structures, and "institute prompt adequate restrictive measures against the Belarusian officials responsible for the violence, repression and electoral fraud".
It is to be recalled that on 25 March, the authorities put up thousands of Riot policemen against peaceful demonstrators in Minsk.