Milinkevich proposes to invite Belarusian MPs to Euronest

The leader of the For Freedom movement calls on the EU to have a dialogue with the Belarusian dictator.

It is reported by the movement's press service.

Aliaksandr Milinkevich stresses that all Belarusian democratic forces “defend the right of Belarusians to live in an independent democratic country”.

“Democracy will certainly come, but the primary task for today is to defend out independence. We may lose it just in one night, and we won't have freedom, human rights and Motherland,” Milinkevich said.

The politician emphasised that democratic forces stand for a dialogue with Lukashenka: “There's no alternative to the dialogue. But it must be based on transparent principles, pragmatic relations and respect for values. We may have stages of progress and regress, but Europe should not say: 'Good bye if you don't want to be with us'. Efforts are needed to promote liberalisation and optimistic pro-European moods both among citizens and authorities. The main goal is to preserve the taste of Europe.”

According to Milinkevich, the dialogue can help Belarus hold free elections.

“It is very important for us that Belarusian MPs can be represented in Euronest as equal members,” he said. “We offer a compromise of 5+5 (half of the delegation is from the House of Representatives and half is civil society representatives). There's a hope that the 2016 parliamentary elections will be transparent and fair, that we will count votes together with the authorities, and Belarus will be represented [in Euronest] as a full-fledged delegation.”