US To Keep Sanctions Against Belarusian Regime For Duration Of “Elections”

The official position regarding the US sanctions against Lukashenka has been announced.

Opposition leaders met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brinkley and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert Berschinski in Minsk on May 17.

The meeting was attended by Anatol Liabedzka, Antanina Kavaliova, Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Yury Hubarevich, Ales Lahvinets, Vital Rymasheuski, Pavel Seviarynets, Aliaksei Yanukevich, Ryhor Kostuseu, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, Siarhei Kaliakin and others.

Following their meeting, Yury Hubarevich said to Radio Svaboda:

“I think they will discuss a range of issues. Apart from the opposition, they are meeting with representatives of the official party. That is why it was important for them to hear the opposition's opinion. Obviously, first of all, the one regarding the political issues and the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus. However, we discussed various topics: from the economic crisis and the situation in the region to the instability posed by Russia's actions in Ukraine, and the threats that can come from Russia towards Belarus.”

At the beginning of the meeting the US official position regarding the sanctions was announced.

“As is well known, they have been frozen for six months. Soon it is time to address this situation. The chances are high, that the freeze will be continued for the duration of the “parliamentary elections.”

The United States will closely monitor the situation during the parliamentary election campaign. And the final decision on sanctions will be taken after the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus.

They are also interested in the election environment – what can be changed now in holding the “elections.”

Democratic forces of Belarus are preparing a joint statement regarding the conditions, which have to be taken note of.

Naturally, the US side wants the practice to be changed. The conditions for all the candidates must be equal, the elections must be free and transparent. They understand that the vote count must be not secret, but public, that observers must not only see ballots at the edge of the table, as Yarmoshyna promised. But they must have the opportunity to know, for whom each vote is cast,” – Hubarevich said.

US diplomats are also to hold meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus.

Brigitte Brinkley and Robert Berschinski visited Belarus in October 2015.

Following the results of the visit, the American diplomats said at a meeting with journalists, that the US was ready to take further positive steps in relations with Belarus so far forth as our authorities were ready for response actions.