Andrei Sannikov: “European politicians hasten to encourage Lukashenka for his vain promise”

Andrei Sannikov, of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, commented on the resolution on the situation n Belarus, adopted by the European Parliament. The document suggests to suspend visa sanctions against some Belarusian officials for 6 months, though the recent “parliamentary elections” were recognised unfree and non-democratic.

“Europe is likely to have not only a desire, but a plan on encouraging the dictator’s regime in Belarus. The Europeans are so eager to see positives signs, showing democratisation, that they don’t want to notice extremely negative events that happen in Belarus today. In spite of a rather precise estimation of the Belarusian “elections” by the OSCE observing mission, European politicians turn the blind eye and hasten to courage Lukashenka for his vain promises,” Andrei Sannikov told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.

As the politician thinks, the EP’s resolution contains many right ideas and precise estimations, but its spirit evokes great doubts of its effectiveness.

“It seems that the resolution pursues the aim to give carte blanche to the Council of Europe for accelerating of the development of the relations with the regime of Lukashenka. It also contains a number of dangerous moments. Instead of demanding freedom of speech in Belarus, MEPs speak about a revision of the adopted and signed the Law on Media as if it the acting law was better. There really have been some positive events in Belarus. These are release of some political prisoners, who were set free not due to the good will of Lukashenka but due to the American economic sanctions. Hasty overestimation of this fact will lead to appearing of new prisoners of conscience and will make Lukashenka think he can trade with Europe in such a way.

The regime has purposeful conducted the “elections” according the hard scenario in order for the EU not to have illusions about what can be expected from the current Belarusian authorities. Nevertheless, European politician prefer not to notice this challenge of Lukashenka, but pretend they hope for democratic changes under the direction of the dictator. Now it’s clear, why many western politicians and consultants advised so obstinately the parties to run in the electoral farce. Running of oppositions parties crated an illusion of competitive electoral process,” the leader of the “European Belarus” said.

At the same time the politician notes: “Unfortunately, former single democratic candidate for presidency Milinkevich played a great part in the decisions, which will have harmful effect on Belarus. This is he who lobbies full recognition of the actions of the regime and se his main task in the negotiations between the regime and the West, not in the beginning of inner Belarusian dialog. In this situation the democrats should be more resolute in defending the principles of freedom and human rights and gaining real changes in Belarus.”