Volha Kazulina: “Lukashenka shouldn’t be invited to summit in Prague”

The daughter of the former political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin vigorously opposes invitation of the Belarusian dictator to the EU summit.

Volha Kazulina has stated that in an interview to “Euronews” channel.

- Please tell us are real changes taking place in the country? Do you see improvement of social and political situation? We heard that representatives of the opposition have been invited into the public boards by the Presidential Administration. What does it mean?

- It doesn’t mean anything so far. It has been done for the sake of appearance, like everything recently. The aim is to show that the regime has started to take into consideration the opinion of the opposition and implement the EU’s requirements.

- But “Narodnaya Volya” is allowed to be sold in “Sayuzdruk” kiosks…

- Yes, but “Sayuzdruk” kiosks take only 5-10 copies of the newspaper after a special order from higher authorities. As you can understand, they are bought very soon. And when people want to buy a newspaper, they are answered one thing: “All newspapers are sold out”. Just like before, the Belarusians do not have a chance to receive independent press.

- To your mind, what should be done by the authorities for the European Union to lift sanctions against Belarus?

- The regime must make substantive steps. The situation in the country hasn’t changed in actual fact. Even political prisoners have remained: Alyaksandr Barazenka and other young people involved in the Process of Fourteen, are still under a criminal punishment. Young leaders are forcibly sent to the army.

- What is your opinion about invitation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka to the summit in May?

- The European Union has given Alyaksandr Lukashenka a trial period as overtures, having suspended sanctions against Belarus. Over this time Lukashenka has done NOTHING in reality. Everything has been done just for the sake of appearances.

We call upon the European Union to judge Lukashenka’s actions according their actual results:

1) There is no tangible freedom of press as before.

2) The Criminal Code under which citizens of Belarus are prosecuted on political grounds, hasn’t been changed.

3) The electoral code hasn’t been changed.

It means that that the dialogue between the West and Belarus is out of the question. That is why I believe that Lukashenka shouldn’t be invited to the summit.

- They say opposition in Belarus is not united, it is atomized…

- It is true, but partially true. Yes, we have quite a few differing points of view. But we are one in the most significant thing: we are against Lukashenka’s dictatorship, we are for freedom and human rights, we are for democracy. And it is the most important thing.