Martin Uggla: Bildt's visit helps Lukashenka to get legitimacy

The Belarusian dictator will receive dividends from another visit of European politicians in Minsk.

Martin Uggla, the head of the Swedish Human Rights organization Östgruppen, writes in his blog (translation - charter97.org).

Carl Bildt , the former Swedish Foreign Minister, joined high-ranking politicians who sacrifice the law for the sake of Lukashenka's undeserved praise. On Tuesday he visited Minsk with delegation of experts from the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Carl Bildt missed the morning session of the group with the participation of Uladzimir Makei, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, but he joined it at the next meeting with members of the opposition free "Parliament", who were appointed as a result of falsifications in the autumn 2012, and therefore are considered illegal power, as well as Lukashenka himself ", Martin Uggla writes.

He emphasizes that Carl Bildt praised "deputies" for their support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The comment of the Swedish ex-Minister was shown on Belarusian TV.

Martin Uggla reminds that the official used to be the dictator's uncompromising opponent and the co-author of the article "Lukashenka is a loser", published in The New York Times right after dispersal of the Square in 2010.

"But now it does not prevent Carl Bildt from meeting with representatives of Lukashenka's regime", he writes." This enthusiasm is hard to understand. Lukashenka, of course, not fully supported Putin's crimes in Ukraine, and in some sense it can be welcomed. But Belarus voted against the UN resolution in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and in the spring last year Lukashenka stated that Crimea was a part of Russia".

Martin Uggla emphasizes that changes in a political situation in Belarus are out of the question, and those officials who say it either are wrong or play into the hands of the dictator.

"The truth is that Lukashenka never wanted anything but normal relations with the West. The EU and the United States froze them for infringement of democracy and violations of human rights. It is regrettable that thaw in relations is happening despite absence of democratic progress. And the same thing, as you know, is happening now.

In one of his interviews in Minsk Carl Bildt stated that the position of the Belarusian authorities in Ukraine did not have much importance to relations with the EU, and that the West did not back down from its demands to Lukashenka's regime (what is already happening). But amid such visits Belarusian propagandists tell that the dictator is an internationally recognized legitimate politician. Bildt's statements provided support of Lukashenka here," Martin Uggla concludes.

Photo by facebook.com/taciana.reviaka