Andrei Sannikov: There’s Long-Felt Need To Take Special Decision On Lukashenka

The policy of the dictator is aimed at the destruction of the people.

Belarus, hiding the scale of the coronavirus epidemic, is increasing the threat to human life, not only in its neighboring countries, but for the whole of Europe. Andrei Sannikov, coordinator of the European Belarus civil campaign, stated this issue to Gordon, commenting on the situation with the mass detention of journalists and bloggers who write about the real scale of the coronavirus epidemic in the country.

“The detentions in Belarus are connected with the military parade organized by the insane dictator. They arrest people for telling the truth about this policy of Lukashenka, which (you can already say directly) is aimed at killing people. More than a hundred were detained in all regions of the country - Brest, Vitsebsk, Minsk, Homel, and small towns. This fight against coronavirus through the fight against independent media, bloggers, and journalists is the usual action of the dictator who believes that he can defeat the coronavirus with repression,” the interlocutor said.

According to him, Lukashenka’s goal is the speedy spread of the virus in the country.

“Lukashenka immediately took such a position and said more than once that his goal is to infect as many people as possible. For this, mass events should be held - parades, subbotniks, sending children to schools. He also announced the so-called elections. He does everything to increase contacts between people. And at the same time, real data on the infected and dead is hidden. Today, Belarus is the first in Europe by the rate of infection. More than a hundred dead? It's a lie. I can’t say, but I believe that there are a lot more than a thousand dead. This follows from simple comparison of the number of infected and dead in other countries and in Belarus,” Sannikov said.

He stressed that medical personnel are forbidden to divulge information about the actual number of coronavirus cases.

“Doctors and chief of medicines were ordered to remain silent, not to provide accurate information about the sick, to hide the real situation with the provision of medicines, equipment, protective means, etc. As during the Stalinist terror, when the performers were obliged to sign non-disclosure documents. This policy is aimed at destroying people. We can already talk about genocide in Belarus,” the politician said.

Sannikov draws attention to the fact that the actions of the Belarusian leadership are similar to the behavior of the Chinese authorities, who hid from the whole world information about the new virus.

“The situation is serious not only for the country itself, but also for all its neighbors, for Europe as a whole. After all, a pandemic can only be fought with collective efforts. And if somewhere an outbreak occurs, the scale of the danger of which is hidden, it’s clear that it will hit everyone. So, perhaps, humanitarian convoys and emergency assistance will soon be required. It seems to me that the system itself is clearly demonstrating itself. We must already speak not only about the pandemic, but also about the fight against authoritarian-dictatorial regimes. The bridge from China to Belarus is logical and clear. China hid information, and this has increased the danger to the whole world. Belarus follows China’s footsteps, and only increases the threat to people in the center of Europe,” Sannikov said.

He believes that Europe should reconsider the policy towards Belarus.

“There is already a need to make a special decision on Lukashenka. The WHO first praised him for preparing for the epidemic, and then, when they saw everything, shockingly urged him to cancel the parade, but received a weighty slap in response. One cannot ignore what is happening in Belarus. However, at the same time, Brussels demonstrates the usual prudish attitude and issues statements on the “Eastern Partnership”, referring to the country's interest in democratic development, common points of contact ... It's just a theater of absurdity! The EU reacts as if nothing is happening in Belarus, as if the regime is not pursuing the policy of destruction of human lives. Herein, the implementation of these inhuman actions of the authorities of Belarus will create more danger for all of Europe, without exception,” Sannikov concluded.