Natallia Radzina: We Must Not Allow Lifting Of Sanctions From Belarusian Potassium

Diasporas should demand increased pressure on the Lukashenka regime.

Hundreds of Belarusians under white-red-white flags gathered on Lukishskaya Square in the center of Vilnius yesterday, on March 25, to celebrate Freedom Day — the 105th anniversary of the independence of the Belarusian People's Republic.

Among the speakers was Natallia Radzina, the Editor-in-Chief of the website Charter97.org. She drew attention to the danger of easing sanctions against the Belarusian regime:

— It is necessary to increase international pressure on the Lukashenka regime, it is necessary to demand stronger economic sanctions against the dictatorship. This is the work for diasporas. People inside the country cannot seek sanctions, as they will face imminent arrest for this. Diasporas in the countries of the European Union and the United States are obliged to hold demonstrations and meet with Western politicians, to demand from them even harder pressure on the Lukashenka regime.

Now there is a threat that sanctions on Belarusian potash will be lifted. We know that the Lukashenka regime is lobbying for the removal of restrictive measures from this main export raw material. A great danger lurks here, since in this case the regime will receive billions of euros, which will be used for the repressive apparatus, for the continuation of the torture of political prisoners in prisons.

Much is said about the synchronization of sanctions against the Belarusian and Russian regimes. Synchronization should happen in the form of an increase in sanctions, not their easing. As we know, the West has not imposed restrictions on Russian potash. If the synchronization means lifting the sanctions off the Belarusian potash as well, then this is an unambiguous indulgence for the illegitimate Belarusian ruler. We must do everything to prevent this!