Alena Tankachova: Paleckis has no grounds to say about improvements

Justas Paleckis's report give false grounds to reconsider the EU's stance on Belarus.

This statement was made by head of the Legal Transformation Centre Alena Tankachova. The human rights activist wrote on Facebook that she didn't agree with the assessment of the EP's rapporteur on Belarus.

”I think there are no facts to say about improvements in the human rights situation in Belarus. Paleckis's opinion not only fails to give a real picture of the situation, but also creates false grounds for refusal/reconsideration of the EU's earlier stance on Belarus.

I think the groundless (without taking into account factual changes) reconsideration the EU's position aimed at increasing cooperation with the Belarusian government downgrades the fundamental values of the united Europe – human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

I think that formats of the EU's programmes Eastern Partnership and Dialogue on Modernisation should be assessed with due responsibility and reviewed. Under responsible assessment I understand returning to the assessment of launching the programmes (preparation, approval, interim  evaluation of tasks, compliance of the programmes with national conditions), choosing subjects for cooperation, consistency in promoting the standards, transparency of procedures and mechanisms, involvement of civil society in the processes and consideration of public society opinions,” she wrote.

The human rights activist noted she had doubts regarding MEP Justas Paleckis's report for a number of reasons, among them political prisoners in Belarus, refusal to investigated the cases of disappeared opposition members, exercising death penalty, lack of improvements in the areas of free speech and freedom of assembly. She also noted the lack of mechanisms of citizen participation in the country, including elections, referendums and direct legislative initiatives.