Valiantin Stefanovich: Brussels has no illusions about regime

This opinion was expressed by deputy head of Viasna human rights centre after his visit to the EU capital, where he attended the conference on the dialogue on “modernisation” in Belarus.

“For  Viasna, as a human rights organisation, it is important that the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners was a precondition for resuming the dialogue between Belarus and the European Union. Their release is our main task.  Secondly, they should have an opportunity to participate fully in social and political life of the country. This means that their convictions, which significantly restrict their rights, including political ones, should be removed from their records,” the human rights activist said.

Valiantin Stefanovich expressed this opinion in Brussels, where he met with Filip Kaczmarek, the chair of the EP Delegation for relations with Belarus, and Štefan Füle, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Viasna human rights centre reports.

As for the EU's stance, Stefanovich noticed a trend to resume the dialogue with the Belarusian authorities.

“They say many were disappointed with the fact that the sanctions hasven't led to the release of political prisoners and only further isolate the country pushing it toward Russia's area of influence.

On the other hand, after my visit I don't see Brussels has any illusions in its assessment of the regime. No one has illusions there. The credibility of Lukashenka and his team was seriously undermined after December 19, 2010. I don't think anyone in the EU really hopes for liberalisation (or democratisation or modernisation – whatever you call it) of the political system in Belarus, which would be carried out by the Belarusian authorities,” the human rights activist says.

Stefanovich thinks the EU sets up its principle task – the release of political prisoners and decrease of the level of repression in Belarus.

It seems to be the maximum goal for today.