Jacek Sariusz-Wolski: Sanctions against Lukashenka cannot be lifted

The human rights situation in Belarus hasn't changed.

Polish member of the European Parliament Jacek Sariusz-Wolski spoke to Radio Svaboda about the discussion of Justas Paleckis's scandalous report. The report provoked a hot discussion and criticism.

Jacek Sariusz-Wolski was among those who spoke against certain clauses of the report.

What things do you not accept in Paleckis' report?

I disagree with two clauses. The first one is the allegation that the human rights situation in Belarus improved. The second one is that sanctions should be lifted. The report has many positive ideas, but these two elements, these principled items depart from the current course of the European Parliament. I'd like to remind that it is the 38th report on Belarus in the EP. No other countries have had such a number of reports. Justas Paleckis's report departs from the line of the European Parliament and the European Union that has a policy of imposing sanctions for non-democratic behavior of the authorities on the one hand and openness for society on the other hand.

Do you plan to propose amendment to the report?

I will insist on removing these two clauses from the report. I will propose other phrasings.

You said Paleckis was not sent to Belarus as a Special Rapporteur.

Paleckis is formally a Rapporteur on Belarus. But the visit was his own initiative. It wasn't an official visit. He wasn't delegated by the European Parliament. These are different sorts of things.

The report was prepared for the European Commission, the EU Council and the European External Action Service following Justas Paleckis's visit to Minsk on 18-21 March. The document caused a mixed reaction in Belarus. Representatives of opposition and human rights activists severely criticised the words about a discernible improvement of the human rights situation in 2012. Paleckis, in his turn, states that he made such a conclusion based on the information from Belarusian human rights activists. Later the MEP recognised that the wording about the “improvement of the human rights situation” was poor and would be changed.

The document will be open for amendments until June 5. The second hearing is scheduled for July 8. The voting will take place on July 9. The discussion of the document at a session of the European Parliament is due to take place in September 2013.

Justas Paleckis was mentioned in Lord Bell’s plan on improving the image of Lukashenka's dictatorship. The report contained the paragraph titled “Direct lobbying” about the work with certain EU’s officials and politicians.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

KGB reported of having caught spy

A man has been detained in Minsk, who allegedly collected information for a foreign intelligence.

Special services claim that they have detained a man in Minsk, who collected information for a foreign intelligence, the chairman of Belarus’ KGB Valer Vakulchyk told journalist yesterday in Minsk when answering to a question of Interfax-Zapad news agency.

“Last week we detained a man in Minsk, who is suspected of collecting information for a foreign intelligence”, - Vakulchyk said.

At the same time he refused to tell, for the intelligence of what country the suspect collected information, having referred to operational secrecy. However, the KGB’s chairman noted that the suspect was caught red-handed when receiving information.

Vakulchyk added: “We cannot yet provide other information, the investigation is being carried out”. He also did not specify whether the detained had been brought charges against.

We would remind that on 8 November 2012 an activist from Navapolatsk Andrej Hajdukou was detained. The 22-year old locksmith was accused of state treason. KGB claimed that the young man was putting information of political and economic character, which was of interest for foreign special services, in a hiding place. However, human rights activists link the activist’s arrest with his oppositional activities.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Kommersant: Lukashenka may end like Bakiyev

The Belarusian ruler kept everyone waiting for him in Bishkek.

But no one hoped he would arrive, Kommersant writes.

A summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) was held yesterday in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Media turned attention to the absence of some supposed participants.

Vladimir Putin landed in Bishkek among the last at 6 a.m. (instead of planned 3:40). It's strange that he was among the first to arrive at the residence of Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev.

A kind of a yurt was put up on the lawn so that summit participants could comfortably wait for the rest.

The yurt was unnecessary: the talks began soon. Two heads of state were so late that they didn't come. The summit participants didn't wait for the heads of Armenia and Belarus. Vladimir Putin, Emomali Rakhmon, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Almazbek Atambayev posed for a group photo. The ceremony didn't look solemn. Journalists noticed the absence of two summit participants. No comments followed Lukashenka's failure to appear. None of the leaders, including the president of the hosting country (who always makes at least a short statement in such cases) appeared before press. No one probably wanted to explain the absence of their colleagues.

According to a member of the Kyrgyz delegation, they waited for Lukashenka in Bishkek, but didn't hope to see him. Belarus is known for giving political asylum for former president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his family. Bishkek has been demanding to extradite them for more than a year. The Belarusian ruler perhaps didn't want to listen to these requests in the home country of Bakiyev, to him he gave hospitable shelter in Belarus.

There are several versions about Serzh Sargsyan. The most popular one is that no one asked why he was absent. After all, he doesn't worry much about consequences of NATO forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan at least because Armenia is not dangerously close to Afghanistan.

As Kommersant learnt, Serzh Sargsyan informed his colleagues that he was not able to attend the summit because he was busy with domestic affairs.

Only this fact shows how CSTO members states rate the organisation.

At least, their personal problems are not discussed there.

They are wrong not to appreciate it.

After all, any of them may become Kurmanbek Bakiyev, even Aliaksandr Lukashenka, but not everyone can become Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Kyrgyz media: Lukashenka fears

The Belarusian ruler didn't visit the CSTO summit because of panic fear of protests.

Kyrgyz media write about the summit that opened today and pay attention to the absence of the Belarusian ruler.

Political observer Arkady Dubnov spoke to the website vesti.kg about his impressions of the CSTO summit and its participants.

Dubnov notes the summit cannot be considered to be full-fledged, because presidents of Belarus and Armenia didn't arrive.

“It is characteristic that I saw no official explanations about the absence of these two presidents. Of course, we understand why Lukashenka hasn't come. I also heard talks that Serzh Sargsyan is busy with domestic affairs. But their absence shows that they don't care about the problems discussed at the summit – the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2014. It's clear that Lukashenka didn't come not due to the Afghan issue or lack of interest in it, but because people would actively speak against the fact criminals Bakiyevs live in Belarus. Anyway, I don't think it is a positive moment in the CSTO activity.”

Politologists and analysts suggested ahead of the summit in Bishkek that Kyrgyzstan would again raised the question of the extradition of the country's former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his brother Zhanysh, who hide from prosecution in Minsk. Bakiyev was tried in absentia and sentenced to 24 years in prison. Bishkek continues to insist on the extradition of the former president.

Some civil groups and movements in Kyrgyzstan said earlier they would meet the Belarusuan ruler in Bishkek with rallies and protests.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Europe needs strategy on Belarus

The situation of Belarus was discussed in Tallinn at a high level.

The Lennart Meri Conference was held in Tallinn on May 24—26. The annual conference under the aegis of President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who takes active part in all sessions, focuses on international politics laying special emphasis on the Baltic States.

In 2011, the Estonian president spoke about events in Belarus: dispersal of a rally against the rigged results of the presidential elections on 19 December 2010 and jailed activists.

The conference traditionally invites world leaders. This year's conference was attended by Prime Minister of Latvia Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister of Estonia Andrus Ansip, Acting Undersecretary at the US Department of State Rose Gottemoeller, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Paet, former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius, former President of Serbia Boris Tadič, Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania, Freedom House President David Kramer, one of the leaders of the Russian opposition Boris Nemtsov, Chairman of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada Committee on European Integration Hryhoryi Nemyria, representatives of European and American leading analytical centres, journalists and activists.
Belarus was represented by Andrei Sannikov, the leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, and Iryna Krasouskaya, the head of We Remember Foundation and the widow of abducted businessman and activist.

The situation in Belarus was discussed at a special session with participation of Andrei Sannikov, Boris Nemtsov, Arkady Moshes from the Institute of International Affairs and Jana Kobzova, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. The discussion was moderated by Pavol Demeš from the German Marshall Fund.

“The discussion on Belarus was hot. Journalists and members of governments and NGOs joined the debate. The situation in Belarus causes great concerns. The ongoing repression against opposition, civil society raises more and more concerns of the international community. Attempts to resume contacts with the Lukashenka regime turned to be unsuccessful. Meantime, the situation of political prisoners continues to worsen.

I am concerned about the demonstration of Realpolitik approaches by certain European politicians ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit. Lithuania is especially active in this direction. I mean Paleckis's report and holding high-level economic forums. It is clear on the one hand: Lithuania takes over the EU presidency in July and prepares to host the Eastern Partnership Forum. On the other hand, attempts by all means to invite representatives of the dictatorship in Vilnius without changes in the human rights situation will mean a failure of the summit,” Andrei Sannikov said in an interview with charter97.org.

The politician discussed the Belarusian issue with Estonian President Toomas Ilves, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, former PM of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius, Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania, Freedom House President David Kramer, representatives of other states and analysts.

“The meetings confirmed a good understanding of the events in Belarus: the regime of Lukashenka does not make steps to improve the human rights situation; the state of political prisoners remains difficult; attempts of certain politicians to establish a dialogue with the dictatorship perplex the international community,” the politician said.

Participants of the conference said the Belarusian model of repression was actively used in Russia. In particular, Boris Nemtsov said that democratic changes in Belarus would have a positive impact on the situation in Russia.

“I think it's high time for the international community, in particular Europe to have a strategic look at the existence of a dictatorship in Europe and take particular measures to change the situation,” the European Belarus leader said.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Fingerprinting for all

Belarus wants to introduce biometric passports containing fingerprints.

Aliaksandr Boyechka, the chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus, has said Belarus would issue biometric passports.

“The entire world uses biometric passports. Belarus also plans to introduce such passports,” Boyechka said at a press conference in Minsk.

It should be reminded that Piotr Miklashevich, the chairman of the Belarusian Constitutional Court, said in 2012 that “fingerprinting is an objective process”.

According to current laws, All Belarusians liable for military service must be fingerprinted. Earlier, fingerprinting was a compulsory procedure only for certain categories of people.

Mass fingerprinting started in Belarus after the blast at a concert on Independence Day in Minsk on July 4, 2008. Belarusian security services uses information from mobile phone operators to take fingerprints of all people who attended the concert or were near the accident scene. This measure was later applied to other people across the country.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Stanislau Shushkevich: We must struggle against meanness

The first head of independent Belarus called charter97.org and said: “I want to share my opinion.”

Stanislau Shushkevich was indignant over statements by Aliaksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the Movement for Freedom.

“If we hear that opposition members fight with one another more severely than with the regime, it means just one thing: There are people who behave in a meaner way that the regime. They took the side of the regime and feel good using the West's support and pretending to be the opposition. In fact, they have turned into a pillar of the regime. This is a disgrace,” Stanislau Shushkevich said.

“I have been watching this process for a long time. I just didn't want to speak about it before. But I must say it now. I saw Aliaksandr Milinkevich in Europe many times. He kissed with Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Javier Solana. When they departed from their principled positions, Milinkevich continued to please them. He has done and continues to do it, because this behavior helps the Movement for Freedom, which has turned into a destroyer of the Belarusian opposition, to survive and receive financial aid.

What is the most unpleasant here? This man says we must 'adhere to the principles of justice' in our difficult conditions. But we need to struggle against meanness if we follow these principles. If the authorities are using harsh propaganda, the opposition must apply best efforts to respond with counterpropaganda. Small woman Natallia Radzina finds tools to fight with the propaganda and makes the website that reveals the essence of the regime. You must pray for this site if you are a real Belarusian and fight for freedom of your country,” the first head of independent Belarus said.

Speaking about the Popular Referendum, a new initiative announced on May 20 by the Movement for Freedom, the BPF party and Tell the Truth civil campaign, Shushkevich noted:

“The initiative Popular Referendum is stupid from the perspective of political science. Read the Constitution. Elections and referendums are announced by Lukashenka and the 'house of representatives' under his control. How can we say about referendums and elections? Even students know it is impossible. Initiators of the campaign just decided to confuse people, but forgot to open the Constitution.

Let's see what happened to the opposition. The most famous people – Ales Marachkin, Mikola Kupava, Yury Khadyka, Piotr Sadouski and many others – quit the Belarusian Popular Front, the party that used to be reputable. I'd like to recommend Aliaksei Yanukevich, a co-author of the initiative, to apologize to the people, the honour of the country, who were not able to stay in the party because a young hungry bunch gained the power.

These people – Milinkevich, Yanukevich and others – forgot how to do something. They can only echo the regime and fool the EU. This is not the opposition. This is a disgrace of the opposition, a carcinoma on its body that grew to a huge size. Milinkevich has always looked for profit for his team. How did you reach the level when no one believes you?

I am really upset that talented poet Uladzimir Niakliaeu has joined the initiators of the so called Popular Referendum. It's disappointing that Milinkevich and others managed to fool him,” Shushkevich said.

The politician said about the report of the European Parliament's Rapporteur Justas Paleckis:

“Lord Bell once though up how the image of the regime could be improved. Other people implement his plans today. I don't understand what changes Justas Paleckis saw. What positive changes did he find? We have none of them. If speaking about myself: I am 78 years, my pension is 3,200 rubles, I cannot work in Belarus and have to work abroad because the EP's rapporteur listens to such people as Milinkevich. I hope Justas Paleckis, whom I know personally, just made a mistake.”

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

David Kramer: I don't understand those advocating for dialogue with Lukashenka

The government of Belarus did nothing to attend the Eastern Partnership summit.

Freedom House President David J. Kramer spoke about the political situation in Russia and Belarus in an interview with ru.delfi.lt.

In his opinion, the human rights situation in Russia is the worst since the collapse of the Soviet Union. As for Belarus, Kramer has even more adamand stance. He does not understand Europeans who want a dialogue with the regime of Lukashenka, because the later did nothing for it and political prisoners still remain in jails.

– How do you consider the situation in Russia in the context the recent events? I mean the human rights situation first of all.

I think it is the worst we have seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union. If you look at the period after Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency in last May, a number of laws were adopted to suppress civil society. Pressure, extremism, actions against rallies and NGOs, the case of Alexei Navalny and participants Bolotnaya Square protests and so on.

– The next question is about Belarus. How would you describe Europe's intention to have a dialogue with the Belarusian authorities?

When I was here in January, I recommended that Belarus should be represented by civil society and opposition, not by the government, at the Eastern Partnership Summit. The government hasn't done anything to show they can be represented at the serious legitimate level. They still have 13 political prisoners who have not been rehabilitated. I don't understand why the European Union wants the regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka to be represented at the summit. This is what I cannot understand.

It should be reminded that Justas Paleckis, the European Parliament's Rapporteur on Belarus, said about a “discernible improvement” of the human rights situation in Belarus in 2012 and a positive impact of the European Dialogue on Modernisation on the development of civil society. He proposed to increase contacts with Belarusian officials, prepare a strategic “roadmap” to enhance a dialogue with official Minsk, including interparliamentary relations and suspend key officials from the EU visa ban list to broaden diplomatic communication channels.

Paleckis's report was published on the website of the European Parliament.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Andrei Sannikov: This is initiative of supporters of “legitimate dictatorship”

Lobbyists for Lukashenka realised an urgent need for a loud initiative that would imitate opposition activity being safe for the regime.

Andrei Sannikov, the leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, spoke to Radio Svaboda about the initiative of the Movement for Freedom, the civil campaign Tell the Truth and the BPF party that was announced yesterday in Minsk.

“Unfortunately, the 'troika' confirms its image of supporters of the 'legitimate dictatorship'. Loud statements again appear ahead of upcoming events in Europe. The session of the Euronest PA is scheduled for late May. The European Parliament is expected to make a serious step: to stop persuading the Lukashenka regime to agree on presence of the opposition in the Euronest PA and hold the session with representatives of the Belarusian opposition and without Belarusian MPs. In the context of Europe's flirting with Lukashenka, the decision looks as a step in the right direction and weakens positions of European lobbyists for the dictator.

These lobbyists realised an urgent need for an initiative that would imitate opposition activity being safe for the regime to distract attention from the principled talks about the Belarusian dictatorship at the Euronest session. The 'troika' is useful here. We haven't seen such things in the Belarusian politics yet: the public referendum without questions. Even Lukashenka would not think it up. It's strange to recall that some 'troika' participants spoke earlier about the 'new elections without Lukashenka'.

We should notice the principal, in my opinion, element of the initiative: strategic partnership of the 'troika' in the local, presidential and parliamentary 'elections'. Partners give us to understand that the elections in Belarus really exist and that they are not going to struggle for power, because partnership after the 'presidential elections' means that they don't expect changes in Belarus and don't plan to work for changes.

I think we will hear about other loud initiatives designed to distract attention of both Belarusians and the EU from the last dictatorship in Europe and the problem of political prisoners,” Andrei Sannikov said.

It should be reminded that the Movement for Freedom, the BPF party and the civil initiative Tell the Truth launched the campaign “Public Referendum” yesterday. Representatives of the three organisations said about strategic cooperation at a press conference. According to Uladzimir Niakliaeu, the cooperation will last for at least three election campaigns – local, presidential and parliamentary 'elections'.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Andrei Sannikov: Why Hitler shouldn’t be called Hitler?

Leader of the European Belarus published a political pamphlet.

Andrei Sannikov posted the pamphlet on his Facebook-account.

Below follows the complete text of the pamphlet:

From archives

The way the West treats top secret archive materials is odd. From time to time the materials are made public; access to the sacred databases is opened. That’s how the law tells works. In the UK, I had a chance to browse archives that used to be top-secret. What I found was a very interesting record of a meeting of the allies in the World War II where they discussed Belarus - or BSSR, as it was called back then. Apparently, during the war, if I understood the record correctly, somewhere in 1942, in the occupied BSSR appeared underground press: newspapers, leaflets, proclamations.

Groups of activists from the underground and guerillas faced serious problems: lack of printing devices, type cases, secure premises, paper, typographic paint, transport for distribution of the printing production and so on. And so the allies and a couple of generals met to decide how they could help. Even during this clandestine meeting everyone’s participation was secret, which made it impossible to say for sure what countries they represented. They never mentioned their countries. One could guess, but I don’t dare turn my guessing into an affirmation. Let me just put names under their lines. Random names… The level of the participants was not that high, but they had the authority to make expert decisions on behalf of their governments. And maybe they were not talking about the press at all…

Nobody uses addresses like “mister”, “comrade”, “monsieur” and “seignior” during the meeting; the last two of them can’t have been used during the meeting because they belong to the opposite party. The participants address each other “hey you”. It is weird to hear, so I changed their secretive address to “friends”; anyway, this is a story of the winning coalition.

Lets’ begin...

... It is 1942, Klaus’ residency. Klaus himself is not mentioned in the conversation below.

John: Friends, fighters with fascism from the BSSR have contacted us, they need help urgently. They need all what’s needed for underground publishing.

Roderick: Consultants?

Eric: Seminars?

Ivan: We have already helped them with everything we could.

John: They need some specific items, here’s the list...

Eric: Why is it so long? Why do we need so many editions?

Ivan: We supply them with weapons, armor, we teach their soldiers, we plan for them how they should fight, what else…

John: But they are no strangers to you, and they want to get rid of the occupants…

Ivan: That’s what I’m saying, there’s much more than just weapons. What else?

Roderick: The problem is, in fact, not that big. Compared to the cost of the weapons, it is not a problem at all. And in the war time propaganda is really important: to give hope in victory, to lift the fighting spirit of the warriors and to mobilize the nation. I suggest that we should help. Let’s take it seriously and split the costs.

John: We should establish criteria.

Eric: That’s what I’m saying, there are too many criteria. Why don’t they all unite and publish one leaflet.

John: This can be dangerous, it’s easier to discover them or take control over them. People can suffer.

Eric: But they are warriors, to suffer is their job.

Roderick: My government supports warriors.

Eric: So does mine.

John: And mine.

Ivan: Mine, too, of course.

Eric: And they should be registered.

John: Where, in Gestapo?

Eric: It doesn’t matter; there should be some administrative institution that registers the press? We need it for our reports.

John: The money is insignificant - we spend more on our conferences.

Eric: What conferences?

Roderick: You know, Teheran is on schedule, Yalta…

Ivan: Friends, Eric doesn’t have to know about that.

Eirc: I refuse to work like this, you’re hiding something from me again.

John: Friends, let’s not fight. Let’s get back to our question. I only see positive sides here. The help isn’t big, but we can report to the leaders that we’ve opened an information front against fascism in the BSSR.

Ivan: Well said about the leaders, my dear John.

Roderick: Indeed, a good cause.

Eric: We’ll help, but the press should be unbiased. It’s OK if the underground papers will write that the fascists have good weapons, are better trained and are human. Ezra Paund, von Karajan, Knut Hamsun are famous personalities. And gas chambers are a useful invention…

John: Aren’t we pushing it too far?

Roderick: The printed word should be objective, and people need to know about the fascists, perhaps, even more, than about those who fight them.

Ivan: That was an unexpected idea.

Eric: But a good one. Anyway we’ll have to live with those fascists in the future, no matter who wins now.

John: What do you mean, it doesn’t matter who’ll win? But we should do everything to win.

Eric: And if we lose? I mean, we should be cautious with the underground press. By the way, we could borrow editors from Henri. They’re professionals.

John: Henri who?

Eric: Petain.

John: Petain???!!!

Roderick: Why, a good idea. They really are professionals.

John: Let’s define the amount of help. I suggest this number (probably writing the number down; nothing is sais aloud).

Roderick: From each?

Ivan: Everything for them?

Eric: Monthly?

John: This is for one year, minus cost of our consultants, Petain’s boys, Teheran and Yalta.

Ivan: We’ll support but we have already paid our share with weapons.

John: But it’s about leaflets, not weapons. We’ve also helped with weapons, and with land-lease, too.

Ivan: Sure, we’ve heard about your land-lease. It’s all a debt, how will they pay it back? Are you pushing the soviet nation to peonage? We don’t need your underground leaflet.

Roderick: Calm down, my friend. By the way, we should help both the guys from the underground and talented journalists from occupation papers.

Eric: We could organize joint seminars with the outlawed and occupation press. Why not? They could raise their professional level and the competition would be faire…

John: I think that we’ve agreed on most points.

Eric: And one more thing: we should recommend them not to call Hitler Hitler.

John: …But he is Hitler, how else should they call him?

Eric: For example, head of state, high military man – journalists know this stuff themselves.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

“Lukashenka is a terrorist who must be put on trial”

Natallia Kaliada, the Belarus Free Theatre director, took part in the Oslo Freedom Forum.

The Free Theatre director and one of the leaders of the campaign Free Belarus Now was invited to Oslo by Thor Halvorssen, the president of Human Rights Foundation, and Russian human rights defender Garry Kasparov, the chairman of the Human Rights Foundation.

Natallia Kaliada joined Mario Vargas Llosa, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Ali Ferzat, a Syrian political cartoonist, and Lapiro de Mbanga, a Cameroonian musician, in the Forum's session themedThe Art of Dissent.

The Free Theatre director said in an interview with charter97.org that she had spoken about the campaign Give the Body Back launched by Free Belarus Now. Campaign activists demand to release the body of Uladzislau Kavaliou, who was executed in the Minsk metro bombing case, to his family and abolish the death penalty in Belarus; investigate the cases of disappeared and killed politicians and journalists in Belarus and release their bodies to their families; free political prisoners while they are alive.

The Free Theatre director noted that the world should have suspended all contacts with dictator Lukashenka after mass arrests in Belarus after the presidential elections on December 19, 2010. Instead, we see another round of backstage talks between the West and Europe's last dictatorship.

“Lukashenka deceived the European Union again by declaring a fake modernisation and the EU took the bait. Why did Europeans believe his lies? Because they want Belarus to remain the 'stability zone'. Almost 10 million Belarusians are hostages of European hypocrisy. Belarus remains a buffer zone between the EU and Russia and it is treated from the amoral point of view of Realpolitik.

The 'stability zone' becomes a zone of silence. The repressive machinery of Europe's last dictatorship gag Belarusians. If Europeans are unable to solve the dictatorship problem at thei doorstep, how can their declarations about human rights and common values be perceived in other parts of the world?

Belarus has been among top arms exporters recently. It's important to understand that the dictatorship is dangerous both for the people of Belarus and the entire world, just like Iran and Syria. But the West continues to involve this monster in the 'dialogue' due to the historical fear of Russia.

The world should have suspended all contacts with the last dictatorship of Europe after December 19, 2010. Lukashenka kidnaps, kills people, throw innocent people into jail and uses them for blackmailing, sells arms to Syria and Iran. The world should call this person a terrorist and place him on a most wanted list. Generally, such people are hunted down and put on trial, but somehow the world doesn’t apply it to Lukashenka.

You shouldn't think that your activity can “worsen the life of Belarusians”. The life of Belarusians only gets worse due to indifference and irresponsibly that politicians show towards the dictatorship in the centre of Europe. Once Belarus becomes free, it will be the first time in history when Europe will be free from dictators. Belarus will be called not the last dictatorship of Europe, but a young democracy,” the Free Theatre director said.
A suit was displayed on the stage during Natallia Kaliada's speech. As she told, it was the suit of executed Uladzislau Kavaliou.

“Uladzislau Kavaliou called this suit a 'wedding' one. It was seized from Kavaliou's home by police. The suit was returned to his mother after Uladzislau had been executed. Uladzislau's mother gave it to me and asked to help her return his body. Her son will never get married, but at least she could have his remains. How many suits have I to show you to make you solve the problem of Belarusian dictatorship? I urge you to put pressure on your government, so that they force the Belarusian authorities to release and rehabilitate all political prisoners. The number of such suits mustn't grow. We must forget today that we are theatre makers. We only need to remember that we are just human beings who can combine our efforts trying to bring back the value of one human life,” the Free Theatre director said.

Pictures of Alialsandr Lukashenka with the world's outlaws Fidel Castro, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chavez, Muammar Gaddafi and logos of charter97.org website, Viasna human rights centre, the Belarus Free Theatre and Free Belarus Now campaign were displayed on the stage screen during Kaliada's speech. A video appeal of British cinema and theatre stars calling on the UK's PM David Cameron to urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately release political prisoners was shown at the session.

A poster depicting naked human bodies forming the message “Fuck Realpolitik!” was demonstrated at the Freedom Forum.

Natallia Kaliada talked to Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide, Hermitage Capital Management CEO and lobbyist for the Magnitsky Act Bill Browder, head of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay, co-founder of Serbian Otpor movement Srđa Popović and other politicians and activists.

Such prominent people as Aung San Suu Kyi, Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel were among speakers at previous forums.

The Forum closes with the awarding of the Vaclav Havel Prize to Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat, Cuban civil society group the Ladies in White, and North Korean democracy activist Park Sang Hak.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Belarus and Vietnam to produce weapons

Belarus proposes Vietnam to set up a joint venture to produce weapons and military equipment.

“The Belarusian side proposes Vietnamese partners to elaborate new forms of cooperation allowing to develop opportunities of both enterprises of the Belarusian military industrial complex and our Vietnamese partners in the military cooperation. In particular, we have approached the need to proceed from export-import operations to sharing technologies in producing military-oriented products, attracting new innovative technologies and setting up joint ventures to produce weapons and military equipment, also for third countries,” says a press release of the State Military Industrial Committee of Belarus following the 13th meeting of the Belarusian-Vietnamese commission on military industrial cooperation held on Thursday.

Issues of educational programmes for Vietnamese specialists, also in the Belarusian Military Academy, were discussed during the meeting.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka met with Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung on May 17. The ruler said he saw opportunities to boost cooperation with Vietnam hoping to reach trade of $500 million in the two nearest years.

Speaking about the current trade level of $200m between the two countries, Lukashenka said: “It is not the trade with such a huge country as yours.” “Moreover, Vietnam is among the states we have no problems with, no close topics for cooperation,” he noted.

Lukashenka said Belarus was ready to develop cooperation with Vietnam “from supplies of common consumer goods to military cooperation”. “We are ready to as close ties with Vietnam as Vietnam is interested in,” the dictator noted.

Lukashenka stressed Vietnam was for several reasons a “key state” for Belarus in Southeast Asia. “But the main reason for our interest in Vietnam is that we are old friends. We have always been with you in difficult times for Vietnam,” the ruler said.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

How much does Lukashenka's new residence cost?

Lukashenka refuted the words of his aides and confirmed that his new residence was being constructed in Arlouskaya Street in Minsk.

This information is contained in the appeal of the political council of the United Civil Party to the Belarusian prime minister. The document demands to provide public with all information about the construction costs, including a copy of a decision on the construction.

“It is obvious that the construction works are being performed not out of Lukashenka's personal funds or donations of private investors, but at the expense of the country's budget. In this situation millions of Belarusian taxpayers have the right to know how much the comfort and luxury of top officials cost.

The political council of the United Civil Party says the amount of squandered state funds and privileges of the ruling clique goes beyond the bounds of decency. Construction of a residence amid economic and financial crisis, when war veterans didn't even receive one-time bonuses on Victory Day, is defiance to entire society. This is another proof of all-permissiveness of the authorities and absence of public control over their actions,” the statement says.

Information about construction of a new residence for the ruler in Arlouskaya Street in Minsk appeared last year. The construction site is strictly guarded so that people are not allowed there without special permission. The territory is surrounded by a non-transparent metal fence and CCTV cameras are mounted on every pole.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Anatol Liabedzka: Kremlin kicks Lukashenka

Lukashenka's resentment looks childish and doesn't show an example of serious politics.
“A trip to Armenia, where Lukashenka afforded living in a private residence of a local oligarch, is unacceptable. In simple terms, this is corruption. This is a very clear example. Politicians resign after such incidents. It doesn't matter what the reason was – hard feelings or a desire to drink Armenian brandy,” the politician noted.

He stressed Lukashenka prefers the time-tested tactics of blackmailing in the Belarusian-Russian relations.

“He now tries to return to that stage of relations with Europe he had had before the presidential campaign thus blackmailing Moscow. On the other hand, he allowed to open Russian military bases blackmailing the EU in turn,” the UCP leader thinks.

He noted that disqualification of Lukashenka's team at the veteran tournament in Sochi was not the first example when Russia kicks the Belarusian ruler in a hidden and derisive way.

“Such grudges look childish. The Kremlin smiles at this reaction of Lukashenka, who behaves as if he were a little boy. It's not an example of serious politics. But the fact remains,” the politician added.

Anatol Liabedzka is confident that Moscow's credit line for the Belarusian dictator is still open.

“At the same time, Russia will increase pressure tying loans to the issue of privatisation in Belarus. Moreover, under previous arrangements, loans are granted directly for the privatisation programme. Moscow hoped it would have the leading position in the programme. Lukashenka failed to perform obligations, so the Kremlin has to try various ways of influence. They might be mocking and derisive, in the form of demarches and tough messages. But it will not be the end. Moscow continues to give loans to the Belarusian ruler on principle, but they will change conditions demanding some advantages for Russia,” the politician concluded.

It should be reminded that the Belarusian ruler cancelled a scheduled informal meeting with the Russian president and flew to Armenia to open a casino instead.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Natalia Radzina: Pressure on journalists inserted by means of Criminal Code and KGB

An OSCE seminar on human dimension “Legal basis for media freedom” is taking place in Warsaw on 13-15 May.

When opening the seminar the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic stated that many governments of the organization’s member states violate the freedom of speech and claim that they act in accordance with the norms of national legislation.

“I do not agree with that. All the member states have taken obligations in the framework of the OSCE. Much national legislation need being reformed, law wordings are vague and allow for violation of the freedom of speech. Laws, well-written at the first sight, are hollow if they serve only one grouping. OSCE obligations must be followed and do not feel offended when I remind of that. Many journalists are behind bars. Although they simply did their job, they are being accused of being terrorists or hooligans. It should not be like that in countries that call themselves democratic. No one should be thrown to a prison only for criticizing a government”, - Dunja Mijatovic stated.

Representatives of official delegations and non-governmental organizations from OSCE member states made speeches at the seminar.

Speaking about the problems with the freedom of speech, independent journalists and human rights activists from post-Soviet countries – Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Armenia – criticized the OSCE for the absence of instruments to influence the situation in their countries.

The editor-in-chief of the charter97.org web-site made a speech at the OSCE seminar. She reminded that a journalist of Russian Novaya Gazeta and the wife of a presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov Iryna Khalip is still under criminal prosecution in Belarus as well as a journalist of Polish Gazeta Wyborcza Andrzej Paczobut, photographer Anton Surapin, distributor of independent media Andrej Haidukou. He also noted that the cases of administrative arrests of journalists have become more frequent in Belarus recently. Thus, currently Aliaksandr Jarashevich and Dzmitry Halko are serving the arrest time, earlier Henadz Barbarych was arrested, the prosecutor’s office made a warning to Aleh Hruzdzilovich.
The journalist noted the new tendencies – Criminal Code articles, which are applied to journalists in Belarus, vary a lot.

“If before journalists were held responsible mainly according to the articles “slander against president” and “abuse of president”, then now we see that Iryna Khalip received the punishment of 2 years in prison with a postponement for “participating in mass disturbances”, a criminal case was started against Anton Surapin according to the article “assisting the illegal crossing of state border” only for posting the pictures of the so-called teddy bear landing force on the internet.

A youth activist Andrej Hajdukou was held responsible according to the article “state treason” for disseminating Charter’97 newspaper. And the prison terms for the violation of those article are respective – 3,5,7 years in prison. Even pictures are recognized as extremist, like it was the case with the album Press-photo. All in all, the tendency of the recent time is that even more political prisoners become such for trying to implement their right for receiving and disseminating information.

The pressure of special services on journalists has increased too. They become victims of blackmail, illegal recruiting, there is an attempt being carried out to confidentially impose KGB curators on media, who under the threat of repressions try to manage the content of independent media.

There is information that the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media will soon come to Belarus. We would want to warn European politicians: the Belarusian authorities may release one or two journalists, but this will not change the essence of the situation. It is important to understand that the freedom of speech will only be ensured in the country with the change of the dictatorial rule for a democratic one”, - Natalia Radzina stated.

The charter97.org’s editor-in-chief met the vice-chairwomen of the PA OSCE’s Committee on Human Right Isabel Santos in the course of the seminar. During their meeting they discussed the situation with human rights in Belarus, the situation with the political prisoners and also the possibility of eliminating the official Belarusian delegation from the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Sannikov and Schwarzenberg spoke of values

The leader of the European Belarus civic campaign met the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg.

The meeting between a presidential candidate 2010 in Belarus, a former political prisoner Andrei Sannikov with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg took place in Prague on 10 May.

“It was very important to me to meet Schwarzenberg – a close friend and companion-in-arms of Vaclav Havel’s, who, out of all European ministers, perhaps understands the best the period, which Belarus is experiencing now. That is why I spoke to him not only as to a Minister of Foreign Affairs, but also as to a person, for whom moral values prevail. Europe urgently needs to remember about values today, about the morality and solidarity that existed in the 80-ies and that allowed to free Eastern Europe from totalitarianism.

We spoke a lot about political prisoners. An absolutely unacceptable situation has emerged, when the European Union has taken a shot at direct contacts with the representatives of the dictatorial regime while the situation of the political prisoner is worsening every day. European emissaries, who have come to Belarus recently, stated about near releases of the prisoners of conscience, but none have still been released, and alarming information keeps coming from prisons and penal colonies about the increase of pressure on the people.

Moreover, arrests and detentions have become almost a daily event. I have informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs about that, having noted, in particular, the recent cases of arrests of journalists and youth activists”, - Sannikov told the charter97.org web-site.

The politicians discussed possible options for European policy before the Eastern Partnership summit, also touched upon the processes taking place now in Russia and Ukraine.

“Minister Schwarzenberg has assured me that the issue of the release of political prisoners still remains a principled issue for the European Union”, - Sannikov noted.

It turned out in the course of the meeting that both Karel Schwarzenberg and Andrei Sannikov smoke pipes, which was what the politicians did during the conversation. The minister noted that he would like to smoke a pipe with Sannikov in free Belarus.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Pavol Demeš: Lukashenka position is truly fragile and he is terrified

Solidarity and consistent policy of the West will lead to changes in Belarus.

It was stated by the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, a member of the European Foundation for Democracy, an expert of German Marshall Fund Pavol Demeš. An excerpt from his book published by edition of the Transatlantic Academy «The Democratic Disconnect».

The socio-political transformation of post-communist Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries provides a wealth of experience and a knowledge base for those who are dealing with the theory and practice of democracy. Voluminous books and articles written about our region over the last two decades contain pieces on heroic and inspirational struggles for freedom, but also pieces about profound failures of efforts aiming at establishing democratic, rules-based societies.

The former Eastern bloc country where domestic struggles for democracy and Western democracy assistance have failed to the most glaring degree is Belarus. Belarus is the only country that was excluded from the Council of Europe due to the gross violation of human rights violations conducted by the head of state Alexander Lukashenka and his regime. It is the only country whose president, foreign minister, and over 200 top officials cannot land at any airport in the European Union because they are included on the EU’s visa ban list due to anti-democratic behavior. And lastly, it is the only EU-neighboring country where opponents of the ruling regime, including a minister of interior, have been kidnapped and killed, and where presidential candidates protesting against rigged elections have been imprisoned and brutally tortured.

A grandmaster in bluffing, Lukashenka has performed a skillful balance between Russia and the EU, and built a stable, fear-based system, which was recently labeled “Jurassic Park” by the wellknown Belarusian sociologist Andrei Vardomatsky. Vardomatsky, of course, is in exile, along with hundreds of other Belarusians who raised a critical voice against the political situation in their country.

Belarus’ autocrat has repeatedly proved wrong those democracy practitioners and theoreticians, both domestic and international (of whom I was one), who predicted his departure on various occasions. In his almost 19 years of rule, Lukashenka has already outlived several European and U.S. presidents, ministers, and commissioners, with their tough rhetoric concerning his land. Why has Belarus, a country of 10 million souls with relatively high levels of education, a shared history, and borders with two new EU member states — Poland and Lithuania — evolved into this European stranger? Why have significant efforts on behalf of the West aimed at overcoming Lukashenka’s unprecedented abuse of power, and his country’s self-isolation, so far failed? There are domestic and international reasons.

Lukashenka, step by step, modified the political system in Belarus in such a way that it is now entirely under his personal control. Not surprisingly, his international relations techniques have been heavily influenced by his domestic habits. He wants to be the master who dictates the rules of the game at home and abroad. He expelled all international organizations dealing even remotely with democracy and a human rights agenda from Minsk. The OSCE and all foreign foundations were among them. Although he cannot kidnap or eliminate diplomats, he discredits or expels them periodically from his land if they “misbehave.” It is therefore not surprising that lessons learned from assisting democratic transitions in other CEE countries have so far mostly failed in Belarus.

One might assume that the situation in Belarus is hopeless. And it is true that the country’s judiciary, political opposition, civil society, media, academia, and church are either fully under the government’s control or otherwise scared silent. This is particularly the case since the screws were tightened on the population subsequent to the massive protests against the manipulated presidential elections of December 2010, when Lukashenka himself got scared. It is also true that the West, given the situation both inside and outside Belarus, does not have the effective tools and strategy to help the country become a standard and responsive European state. Lukashenka and his loyalists know very well what could happen to them if Belarus’ citizens were to gain basic freedoms. The good news is that Belarus is not an abandoned island, particularly in this digital age.

Belorussian freedom fighters, be they at home or in exile, are more than ever able to get their message out and form links with like-minded people around the world. Transatlantic solidarity, consistency, and value-based positions are the key elements for developing proper and effective policy toward this country. Those who want to assist Belarus in its transformation to an open country must use long-term and unconventional approaches. All donor agency representatives are targeted by the regime. Naturally, they are also often banned from entering the country. Therefore, a very important issue is to carefully monitor and guard information and activist networks as the safety of assisted individuals and groups is at stake. In most cases, receiving foreign aid in Belarus is illegal and can lead to confiscation of resources or property, job loss, expulsion from school, or even imprisonment.

I have been involved in democracy promotion work for over 20 years and must admit that Belarusians have inspired me the most. I have met dozens of enormously brave politicians, civic activists, journalists, artists, men, and women, who despite having withstood inhuman treatment and humiliation and all the odds against them, still struggle and believe in their motherland. They, not the oppressive and isolated regime, are the future of a European Belarus.

Being born in Czechoslovakia, and personally knowing Vaclav Havel, I believe in the concept of the power of the powerless and the power of solidarity. And I know for sure that in the end, it is the power-abusers, including Lukashenka, who are truly fragile, and truly terrified.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Lukashenka: They strangle us with sanctions, NATO flies around borders

Making a speech on the event of the Victory Day, the dictator spoke on close cooperation with Russia.

Lukashenka claims that Belarusian-Russian military cooperation, including the deployment of new air defense systems and fighter planes, is of a defensive nature.

“Considering new challenges and threats to our security, we aim at strengthening the air defense system in order to ensure the integrity of the state borders and the country’s sovereignty. New systems and planes are exclusively defensive weapons”, - Lukashenka stated in Minsk on Thursday at a Victory Day parade.

“We will have as many of them as the security of our state requires”, - the Belarusian ruler said.

He emphasized that “the military doctrines of Belarus and Russia do not accept the perspectives of a war: we do not need the lands of others, but we will cherish ours as the apple of our eye”.

“We will do everything possible for the protection of the borders of the union state and the consolidation of the brotherhood in arms”,- he stated.

Lukashenka noted that the Belarusian state “forms the military doctrine exclusively coming from the principles of defense sufficiency and strategic containment of potential aggression”.

“We fully follow the obligations in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The main direction of our cooperation in the military domain is the partnership with brotherly Russia”, - he claimed.

Lukashenka explained that “sovereign Belarus is constantly in the gun sight of the weapons of the non-proclaimed cold war”. In his words, “someone in the West failed to cope with the fact that Belarus has not become another banana republic, dancing to the pipe of the oversees democracy – they strangle us with sanctions, pour the mud of slander on us, military NATO plane fly along our borders, new military based are being deployed, provocations are being made”.

“But no one will make our people turn off the chosen way”, - the dictator concluded.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Russian pilots, armour crewmen and troopers already work in Belarus

They wear Belarusian army uniform.

The topic of opening a Russian airbase in Belarus and deployment of Russian S-400 missile systems is being actively discussed these days.

Belarus's neighbours are concerned about Russia's growing military presence in our country. Janusz Onyszkiewicz, an adviser to the Polish defence minister, said recently that Poland was concerned about deployment of Russian offensive weapons in Belarus and regarded the forthcoming Belarusian-Russian military exercises Zapad-2013 scheduled for autumn as a threat.

As charter97.org has learnt, Russians have been serving in Belarus long ago. These are not only Russian military personnel at the radar stations in Baranavichy and Vileika.

Soldiers and officers of the Russian army from other military branches serve in Belarus: pilots, troopers, armour crewmen and missile crewmen. They do not advertise they belong to the Russian army. Russian soldiers wear Belarusian military uniform and serve in their own military units under command of Russia.

A total number of Russian military personnel unofficially serving in Belarus is up to 3,000 people. They are reported to serve in at least five garrisons.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Andrei Suzdaltsev: Lukashenka's state deteriorating

The Belarusian dictator has been ill seriously for a long time, a Russian politologist says.

Andrei Suzdaltsev published an article on politoboz.biz stating that Lukashenka's rule may end at any moment.

“Belarusian society, the political class and top officials need to understand that Lukashenka has been ill seriously for a long time. His state is deteriorating. He can't compete with Putin, who answered people's questions during a 5-hour live phone-in, any more.

The end of this almost 20-year story may come at any moment. Lukashenka is not immortal. By the way, there's no and won't be a mechanism of succession (or handover) of power in the country.

It may have sense to look at the political landscape, assess the internal resources and the level of external influence to make several scenarios of yet vague future, the future of Belarus without Lukashenka, inevitably approaching the epoch of Lukashenka”, - the politologist wrote.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Stefan Eriksson: I don't like Belarusian flag incident

A former Swedish ambassador to Belarus comments on a ban to use the Belarusian national flag on the IIHF World Championship in Stockholm.

“It's clear that I don't like this story. I do everything I can. But with such a powerful organisation as the international federation, we need joint efforts to influence it. I think the issue will be discussed further,” Stefan Eriksson wrote on Facebook.

It should be reminded that local police officers twisted arms of Belarusian fans and kicked them out of the arena for an attempt to raise a big white-red-white flag during Belarus's game against Slovenia at the IIHF World Championship in Sweden.

Ambassador Stefan Eriksson was expelled from Belarus on August 1, 2012. The Swedish diplomat was accused of carrying out “destructive activity”. Before his expulsion, a light plane piloted by Swedish citizens crossed the Lithuanian-Belarusian border and dropped teddy bears with free speech leaflets over Minsk and Ivianets.

Stefan Eriksson had been Sweden's Ambassador to Belarus from June 2008 to August 2012. He had headed the Minsk department of the Swedish Embassy in Russia from September 2005.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Edward Lucas: We need sanctions against top people of Lukashenka

Belarusian top peoples cannot shop in London and have their children studying in the West.

A famous journalist, the editor of the international department of an influention British magazine The Economist Edward Lucas gave an interview to the charter97.org web-site.

– In your latest interview you said that Putin’s days were counted. What do you think of Lukashenka in this regards? Does his time also pass?

– Yes, I think we have seen slow maturing of Belarusian society and the big card Lukashenka had to pay was stability and I think there is a new generation of Belarusians grown up who are keen on change and less worried about stability. I think in a way the stability that Lukashenka promised just turned into stagnation. So I think there is a very deep and not really political change in society which is bad for Lukashenka and you can almost say that Belarus is getting over its Soviet past and getting over its post-Soviet tumor. And in a way it is becoming a bit more of a normal country. And Lukashenka is an abnormal leader and I do not think an abnormal leader can survive a normal country.

– What should the European Union’s strategy towards Lukashenka be?

– Really difficult, really difficult. We have try everything. We have tried sanctions, we have tried being nice, we have tried being nasty, we have tried ignoring him. And I think the things to do is to concentrate on the deepest possible engagement with the Belarusian people so we should be opening Europe to civil society, students, tourism just really try to make Belarus feel it is part of Europe. And make Lukashenka into an irrelevance. I do not think that the sanctions really work. I think they feed the Lukashenka narrative of “they do not need us”. And this is very bad. And I think that simply giving him money does not work, we tried that with Radek Sikorski’s offer. So I think we have been very patient, very determined, generous and open and then let time work its effect.

– An old-new initiative of the European Union is being implemented of trying to have a dialogue with Lukashenka.

– I think you can open up a very pragmatic dialogue with officials at the middle level. And if you want to talk pharmacists talking to pharmacists or, you know, nature conservancy talking to nature conservancy or, you know, aviation enthusiasts talking to aviation enthusiasts, that is fine. I am skeptical about having a high level dialogue. I do not think Lukashenka really wants it and he will just use it to sort of gain a little bit of legitimacy. We have to make him look abnormal and irrelevant. It is difficult and the EU runs on a different political cycle: something didn't work last month let's find something next month. They work on a kind of quick political cycle and the changes in Belarus are measured in years, within a five year or ten year cycle, so it is difficult. What I would say, I think we could still do more with Magnitsky list type sanctions against top people of Lukashenka. They has money in the West - let's freeze it, they travel to the West - let's stop them: they cannot shop in the West, they can't get to school in the West, they cannot send their wives and their mistresses to the West.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Andrei Sannikov: Business men can't protect themselves in the dictatorship

The leader of "European Belarus" spoke at the University of Minnesota (USA). American journalist Margaret Shannon Snoeren written about it.

Her material from a lecture by Andrei Sannikov is below:

“Business men, in particular, don’t know how to protect themselves in the dictatorship of Belarus today,” said Andrei Sannikov, human rights activist and former Belarus presidential candidate, speaking at the University of Minnesota today about the current economic and political conditions in Belarus. The event was organized by Political Studies Department and Institute for Global Studies.

“The economy,” Sannikov said, <>i“has remained unreformed. There has been no meaningful privatization. Lukashenko needs to control everything. He makes empty promises to the people and when he can’t fulfill them, Russia bails him out.”

Dictator Alyaksandar Lukashenka has ruled Belarus since his election in 1994. “He plays an East-West game with Moscow and the Economic Union (EU), “ explained Sannikov, “And, he ensures all elections are rigged to keep him in power.”

A former diplomat who opposes Lukashenka, Sannikov was a leading candidate in the 2010 national election, with a “strong team of two former heads of state, three generals and wonderful young people.” Yet, when he joined a peaceful demonstration of 40,000 opposition supporters in Minsk’s central square the night of the election, he was savagely beaten and jailed before the results declared him as coming in second.
“I was faced with a menu of charges, from terrorism to spying to organizing mass disorder” he remembers, “and was sentenced to five years in prison.” Only with the help of international pressure and sanctions from the European Union (EU) did he obtain freedom and asylum in England. His journalist wife has not yet been allowed to leave Belarus.

The audience asked where Lukashenko gets his support and what motivates him. Sannikov responded that the majority of the population oppose the dictatorship. “A high percentage of the young are leaving the country,” Sannikov said, “and the EU reviews the refugee applications from Belarus quite quickly.”

As to Lukashenka’s motivation, Sannikov believes he denies the identity of Belarus and doesn’t have any ideology. “Lukashenko even changed the national coat of arms and flag to reflect Soviet ones, ignoring the history and culture of Belarus. Lukashenka has one motivation, to retain his power.”

Sannikov says he travelled the country during the 2010 campaign and no one spoke positively about the regime; people complained about contract law among other things. There were only reports of “law on slavery” for workers. Belarus economy survives on Russian credits.

Sannikov believes the future of Belarus needs strong support for democracy movement, monitoring from international human rights groups. “Belarus does not meet its obligations under many of the international treaties and United Nation pacts on human rights.

“I believe Belarus can move forward very quickly after Lukashenko and retains a great potential to become part of European family”.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau