Iryna Khalip: West has understood “carrot” does not work

Iryna Khalip, the wife of imprisoned presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, thinks the tough stance of the EU will lead to the release of political prisoners.

“We need to apply all efforts, both inner and external, to intensify the struggle for the release of political prisoners and gain the release,” Iryna Khalip told Radio Racyja.

“Now, even the EU officials who earlier thought sanctions should not be introduced against the Belarusian regime and Lukashenka needs a carrot to feel ashamed and understand the situation, have abandoned this tactics. They have understood only pressure and tough measures can put him in his place.”

According to Iryna Khalip it is now possible to count that Belarusian businessmen close to Alyaksandr Lukashenka, including Yury Chyzh, will not avoid sanctions. Many Western politicians and officials began to talk Belarus cannot host the ice hockey world championship. “These steps will lead to improvement of the situation in Belarus. This is a paradox – the worse it is now, the better it will be in the future,” Iryna Khalip notes.