Lithuanian PM: EU’s Destiny Will Be Determined By Reaction To Situation In Belarus

The regimes will not be able to return to their usual life.

The EU's signal for the authorities of Belarus and Russia should clearly broadcast that it is impossible to return to normal life. This was announced by the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė during her speech at the 25th European Forum in Wachau, as she took part in the event as a guest of honor of the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

Ingrida Šimonytė’s speech has been published on the website of the Lithuanian government. A considerable part of the speech was dedicated to Belarus.

- We cannot ignore that some crises are still full speed on and worsening, just at our borders. We cannot look away from brutal violations of fundamental human rights in Russia and Belarus where governments continue to oppress their own societies. Growing authoritarianism in our immediate neighbourhood is our problem too. The signal to both regimes should be clear: ’back to normal’ is impossible. The only way forward in Belarus is end of torture, the release of all political prisoners, dialogue with civil society, and new democratic presidential elections asap in 2021.