Vasily Parfiankou: Lukashenka spits in West's face

The Belarusian regime ignores the EU's attempts to improve relations.

Former political prisoner Vasily Parfiankou spoke to charter97.org about the initiation of a third criminal case against him and a 1.5-year sentence to Andrei Haidukou.

“The EU's policy towards the regime of Lukashenka shouldn't be softened. Haidukou was sentenced to 18 months in prison yesterday. I will be tried soon. It means that repression goes on. I don't know why the EU made concessions and suspended the sanctions against Uladzimir Makei. Maybe they don't watch the situation closely, but let God judge them,” the activist said.

He underlined that Lukashenka had no plans to response to the West's attempts to improve relations.

“The Belarusian ruler does what he wants. We are living in isolation in fact. People are suffering, but the ruler builds another palace. Just the release of political prisoners is not enough to start talks between the West and the Belarusian regime. They must be released and rehabilitated, and their rights must be restored. You see that we are being released and then thrown into prison again. As for the sanctions of the EU and the US, they must be tightened,” Vasily Parfiankou said.

Vasily Parfiankou was told on Friday in Minsk's Pershamaiski district police department that another criminal case under article 421 (violation of the rules of preventive supervision) was initiated against him.