Lukashenka demands sanctions lifting in response to mass rigging

Alyaksandr Lukashenka had a meeting with Ann-Marie Lizin, head of the PA OSCE election monitoring mission, and suggested the European Union to lift sanctions against his regime.

“We expect you to lift all sanctions you imposed and offended people of Belarus,” Lukashenka said.

According to the Belarusian ruler, “Europe has no right to impose sanctions by two reasons”. “Firstly, we defended the whole Europe during the latest war. Secondly, Chernobyl disaster. It was not we, who constructed this plant, who run it, who exploded it, but 85 per cent of disaster consequences fell on Belarus. Why then do you create European Chernobyl for us by imposing sanctions,” A. Lukashenka told to Ms Lizin.

“We don’t ask for money, joining the European Union, but cooperate in normal way. If Europe makes two steps forwards in this cooperation, political and economic, we will make three steps forward,” A. Lukashenka said.

“We don’t want to feed on the Europeans, but we need talks,” he noted. According to him, “If Europe is not ready to this, say us, we will understand”.

Speaking about visa restrictions towards Belarusian officials, imposed by the EU, A. Lukashenka said: “Take into account, that visa problems of Lukashenka and others are last.”

In the president’s view, “Europe begins to understand, it has made a wrong step.” “What is the position: We won’t allow to enter Germany, Austria, Belgium? But we will let all of you (the Europeans – IF). Such an asymmetrical answer,” he said. He thinks that “visa restrictions is shame for Europe”.

About estimation of the “elections” by the OSCE

“We didn’t expect revolutionary acceptance. The main thing for me is that in your view, our elections were carried out in accordance with the national legislation,” Lukashenka said. “Whatever laws exist in the country, people must obey them. People of a country must live according to the law, until it is changed.”

“You should to estimate what have been done in the country for the last time... you shouldn’t hurry and make hasty conclusions to dictation of a state,” he said.

“I think, the OSCE statement gives a fifty-fifty estimation of the “elections”, Lukashenka concluded. “You have noted positive things, but you also said, and these are common words of the OSCE, what you disliked.”

About relations with Russia

“It would be a great mistake of Europe, if it demands improving relations at cost of worsening relations with Russia,” Lukashenka said. “I don’t think Europe can win from bad relations between Belarus and Russia, because Europe counts on better relations with Russia.”

“We are wise people and ready to find a way to meet interests of Europe and interests of Russia,” Lukashenka noted.

“We want Europe to be consistent. You blame us of creating iron curtain under USSR times. So why do you encircle us with iron fence? We need to remove this fence and start a normal political dialog,” Lukashenka suggested.

“The country situated in the heart of Europe shouldn’t be ignored,” Lukashenka think, noting that “we are not in the situation when we need to crawl to Europe”.