Atroshchankau: Let’s hope that European Union will not be scared by its own bravery

Coordinator of the civic campaign European Belarus, former political prisoner Aliaksandar Atroshchankau commented the worsening of the relations between Belarus and the European Union.

“The peculiarity of the situation is that this is probably the first time when the regime has faced a really united position of the European Union. Now the Belarusian authorities cannot use disagreements within the EU and manipulate their economic interests as easily. (…) Such a determined approach based on a firm position can bring results and show Lukashenka that he cannot build a concentration camp in the 21st century and trade political prisoners,” he told BelaPAN.

When asked why it was the Polish Ambassador who was asked ”to leave for consultations” together with the EU envoy, Atroshchankau said:

“I don’t completely understand the anti-Polish rhetoric of the powers. In 2008-2009 during a certain improvement of the relations between Minsk and Brussels it was Poland who made a most crucial contribution to Lukashenka’s being received in the West and getting access to the western loans. This money saved him then, both politically and economically. Basically his electoral campaign was financed by the European Union. And Poland played an important role in it. (…) And now Lukashenka regards any slight changes in Poland’s position to be a personal attack.”

”The politics of Lukashenka and his team made Belarus unable to provide for itself, dependant on external resources with no real financial support. The Belarusian people are not to blame for that; they have always been a gifted and hard-working people. This is the system’s fault,” the civic activist said.

Moscow’s support is not enough for Lukashenka. Last year the profit from the trade with Europe made more than $ 15 bln, and according to Lukashenka this is economic sanctions! Everyone who refuses to provide for Lukashenka and his hideous repressive and bureaucratic system automatically becomes his enemy.”

How does Aliaksandar Atroshchankau see the development of the crisis? “Let’s hope that the European Union will not get scared by its own bravery, that the EU will continue this process and will demand that the Belarusian law is followed. Nothing unreal and implausible is demanded from Lukashenka – only to release the political prisoners and hold a free voting.”