Syarhei Parsyukevich: “If EU joined the US sanctions, regime of Lukashenka would collapse in half year”

Former political prisoner Syarhei Parsyukevich thinks he and other prisoners had been released due to economic sanctions against the Belarusian regime imposed by the US.

“The American sanctions undoubtedly influenced the authorities. The sanctions affected the image of Belarus, it is one of the reasons why the country has no investments, everyone understands it is dangerous to invest money here. I am sure I was released due to the sanctions. If the European Union joined the sanctions, I think, the regime would collapse in half a year – there will be no finance to pay salary for officials,” Syarhei Parsyukevich told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.

According to the former political prisoner, now Europe tries to establish relations with the regime of Lukashenka. “I don’t know whether it will happen. Lukashenka is always trying to deceive his opponents. He can promise, but only “cosmetic” changes are possible in the county at the best. Political prisoners were released, but how many people are disqualified, how many people are kept in prisons for expressing of their opinion? We know nothing about them. One needs to go to prison to learn how many innocent people are kept there.

Lukashenka wants the “parliamentary election” to be recognised. The election shouldn’t be recognised, as it doesn’t meet the democratic standards. Who will count votes at polling stations? The same people as before? But nobody counted votes before! The results will be appointed. Elections here are far from being democratic,” Syarhei Parsyukevich noted.