Does Germany not need the truth about Belarusian “election”?

The human rights activists, who were denied visas by German embassy, were monitoring the Belarusian “parliamentary elections”, recognised non-democratic by the OSCE.

“We planned to take part in a round table for German politicians and journalists on the results of the “elections”. We were observing the elections, our visit to Germany was planned. Earlier, we always got visas. I regard this as a new vector of the European policy in action. As the governments of certain European courtiers have begun too close cooperation with the Belarusian government, it is not comfortable for them to hear that the situation in Belarus hasn’t changed,” Uladzimir Labkovich told in an interview to Euroradio.

However, he hopes for settling the problem. In the mean time politologist Yury Chavusau sees a dangerous signal in this incident. However, it was always hard for Belarusians to get a visa to Europe.

“The procedure is humiliating. Here much depends on embassy. The Polish or Lithuanian embassies have long bureaucratic procedures, while it is more severe in humiliating in the German embassy. I was asked many questions even if I had an invitation from the European Parliament. The Schengen Wall really exists,” Yury Chavusau said.

The politologist thinks that for all that, the truth about the “elections” in Belarus is of some interest for the West.

“We can’t say nobody in interested in this. There are people in the West, who want to know the truth and will know it. Human rights NGOs will keep a close eye on the situation. The official bodies can count on a dialog. The dialog makes not to turn attention to violations. A situation, when the dialog will become an end in itself, is also possible. In this case a process of communication, not changes in Belarus, will be important,” Chavusau explains.

The politologist thinks that the German side and the German ambassador play almost main part in this dialog, so political motivation of non-issuing visas can’t be excluded. However, he think it won’t stop spreading of information, because modern media allow to distribute information operatively.

“A strange thing! The Belarusian side is creating setting of liberalisation, democratisation and positive steps. It is just scenery and declaration. The Western side... I have an impression that they sign an agreement “Belarus, we don’t demand real changes, just do something demonstratively, and we’ll close this question. In order too active politicians not to demand us show a harsher reaction to Belarus. And we will trade and develop ties.” Denial of visa is a dangerous sign. Does Germany recognise that Belarusian human rights activists are persona non grata? What harm can they do? Is it harm to tell the truth about the elections? I concern about this,” Yury Chavusau says.

It should be reminded that Belarusian human rights activist were rejected Schengen visas in the German embassy without giving reasons.

Human rights activists and journalists were going to visit Germany on October 16. They were invited for a round table, where a discussion of the Belarusian parliamentary elections was to be held with Bundestag’s members. All four activists failed to obtain visas. Among them are journalists Syarhei Sys, Alena Laptsyanok, who observed the elections, and human right activist Uladzimir Labkovich.