Deutsche Bank broke up cooperation with Belarus

Deutsche Bank has officially halted cooperation with Lukashenka’s regime and stopped selling Belarusian government bonds.

It has been stated in a letter sent by the board of the German bank to the British human rights organisation Index on Censorship.

Mike Harris, the leader of the British human rights organisation Index on Censorship, has said to charter97.org website:

“The financial crisis in Belarus is so powerful and serious that last week the Central bank had to set for an auction state property, including TV sets and cardboard boxes. Deutsche Bank и Royal Bank of Scotland which sold government bonds of Belarus in January, supported the dictatorship in this way. We are happy that the both banks have stopped all operations, leaving Lukashenka no variants except releasing his political hostages.”

The human rights activist added: “Only BNP Paribas and Sberbank out of the initial four banks have not officially stated to us that they would halt deals with Lukashenka. In our turn, we will continue the campaign until they do that.”

Iryna Bahdanava, the leader of Free Belarus Now campaign in her interview to charter97.org website noted:

“It is hard for me to understand how money and financial benefits could be ranked above human lives, above the fate of the nation in the centre of Europe. How money could be invested in arrests, tortures, battery and pogroms? I am pleased that Deutsche Bank, though tardily, has adopted the right decision – to stop supporting the machine of repressions, which is used by Lukashenka against his own nation. Now it is high time for other financial structures to join the RBS and Deutsche Bank and prevent restoration of fascism in Europe.”

According to charter97.org information, BNP Paribas bank has also pulled out of any deals related to selling Belarusian bonds.

Natallia Koliada, the director of Belarus Free Theatre, one of the initiators of Free Belarus Now campaign, said:

“During the meeting with the direction of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in August, when we demanded to stop cooperation with the dictatorial regime because of imprisoned political prisoners and use of tortures, representatives of the bank said that not money, but primarily humans who also have their families, stand behind the name of the bank. On the next day RBS made an official statement on termination of cooperation with the Belarusian regime. We also welcome the decision of Deutsche Bank to stop cooperation with the authoritarian regime, which had been joined by BNP Paribas as well, to our knowledge. We hope that humans work in Sberbank of Russia as well, and they will join this decision. We would like any representatives of the European business, governments and leaders of the European Union to understand that we shall continue massive informational pressure until release and exoneration of all political prisoners.”