Bogdan Zdrojewski: There Could Be No Compromises As Far As Human Rights Are Concerned

After lifting sanctions from Belarus, the EU expects the Belarusian authorities to stop applying sanctions to its citizens as well.

“As long as the EU has lifted sanctions from Belarus, we expect that the Belarusian authorities are to stop using sanctions against its citizens – said the head of the delegation of the European Parliament on Relations with Belarus Bogdan Zdrojewski, as he spoke at the round table discussion “European Neighbourhood Policy – Belarus’ Expectations” in Minsk on May 16.

He noted that according to the recent information, Belarusian oppositionists, activists and journalists had been sentenced to fines amounting to $18, 962 in total, naviny.by writes.

“In some situations the EU could accept compromises, give benefit of the doubt, but when the issue concerns democratic values, respect to human rights, there could be no compromises,” – he stressed.

At the same time, Zdrojewski noted that Minsk should understand that “Brussels and the European family have a place for Belarus as well.”

“Despite all crises the EU is facing now, Belarus has not been taken off from our agenda,” – Zdrojewski said.

Speaking about the coming elections in Belarus, Zdrojewski expressed a desire for the Belarusian opposition not to have problems in registration of candidates, and for creating an equal access to mass media and campaigning for all participants of the process. He noted that the European Parliament would like to recommence cooperation with the “chamber of representatives” of Belarus, which is possible only in the case when the elections would be recognized as open, fair and honest.