Onrust en repressie in Belarus na gemanipuleerde verkiezingen #8

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In de straten van Minsk en andere steden in Wit-Rusland zijn duizenden mensen de straat op gegaan om te demonstreren tegen president Loekasjenko, die het land al 26 jaar regeert. De politie kwam in actie en pakte demonstranten op. Militaire voertuigen blokkeren wegen die naar het centrum van Minsk leiden, om mensen die daar willen demonstreren tegen te houden.

Volgens een eerste exitpoll heeft Loekasjenko bij de verkiezingen van vandaag 79,7 procent van de stemmen gekregen. De belangrijkste oppositiekandidaat Svetlana Tichanovskaja zou slechts 6,8 procent van de stemmen hebben behaald. In een voorlopige uitslag van de Centrale Kiescommissie krijgt Loekasjenko zelfs ruim 82 procent van de stemmen toebedeeld.

De hele middag stonden er bij de stembureaus op veel plekken lange rijen, ook nog op het moment dat de stembureaus dichtgingen. Veel mensen hebben dus niet kunnen stemmen. Ook bij de Wit-Russische ambassade in Den Haag hebben zo'n tweehonderd mensen vergeefs gewacht om hun stem te kunnen uitbrengen.

De hele dag al zijn overal politiemensen en militairen op de been en internet is grotendeels platgelegd. Veel mensen werden opgepakt door anti-terrorisme-eenheden, vaak zonder dat ze te horen kregen waarom. Daarmee lijkt het erop dat leger en politie het regime trouw blijven en dat protesten tegen de verkiezingsuitslag net als voorheen desnoods met geweld onderdrukt zullen worden.

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Angela Merkel to meet Belarusian opposition leader Tikhanovskaya

The German chancellor expressed admiration for the courage of Belarus’ women protesters.

By Merlin Sugue 9/30/20, 12:15 PM CET

BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel will "soon" meet Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, she said on Wednesday in a speech in the Bundestag.

Her remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron met with Tikhanovskaya — who fled from Belarus to Lithuania after last month's disputed election — in Vilnius on Tuesday.

In her speech, Merkel expressed admiration for the women protesters of Belarus, who have played a prominent role in the demonstrations, and their fight for "a free life" that's "free from corruption."

“I can only say that I admire it and find it really impressive," said Merkel, who grew up behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany.

The German chancellor reiterated that the European Union did not recognize longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko as the winner of the August election and would therefore review its relationship with Minsk during this week's summit of EU leaders.

She called on Lukashenko to “enter a dialogue with the people without interferences of the east or the west” and condemned the violent crackdown on the protests.

Merkel did not say where and when she would meet Tikhanovskaya, but the Belarusian politician's spokeswoman told Reuters she would visit Berlin on October 5-6.

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Op vrijdag 25 september 2020 12:52 schreef nezalezhnost het volgende:
[ instagram ]

De Free Union of Belarusian Athletes doet in een Engelstalige video een beroep op sporters, supporters en iedereen op aarde.

In deze post kondigde ik op 2 september de komst van de vereniging al aan.

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Putin reaffirms position of inadmissibility of interference in state domestic affairs

Russian President has had a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron

MOSCOW, October 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to reaffirm Russia’s position that attempts to interfere in domestic affairs of a sovereign states as well as foreign pressure on legitimate authorities are inadmissible, the Kremlin press service reported following a phone call initiated by the French side.

"The situation that emerged following the Belarusian presidential elections was also touched upon. The Russian side reaffirmed its principled position that it is inadmissible to attempt any interreference in domestic affairs of a sovereign state or put pressure on legitimate authorities from overseas," the statement reads.

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Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Lukashenko laughs off European leaders’ sentiments

Former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has been making her rounds, meeting with European leaders. Her most recent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron was aimed at trying to persuade President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus to engage in dialogue with civil society by way of mediation through other countries. Meanwhile, experts doubt the EU's ability to influence Lukashenko, who has chosen scorched earth tactics, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. At the same time, Members of the Coordination Council are looking for ways to approach Russia.

Minsk reacted to the meeting between Tikhanovskaya and Macron with its usual indifference, according to the newspaper. Belarus is rolling out its sanctions against Baltic countries, most actively supporting the Belarusian protesters and the opposition's figureheads. At the same time, the United Kingdom and Canada are imposing restrictive measures against Lukashenko, his son Viktor, and the heads of law enforcement agencies involved in violence against civilians.

The expert community does not believe that Europe’s leaders can successfully influence the situation in Belarus. According to experts, the path chosen by Lukashenko to maintain power means that there is no turning back and no dialogue whatsoever.

"Macron's meeting with Tikhanovskaya is purely symbolic support for Belarusian society in its conflict with the regime. It can have very little effect on the situation in Belarus," political scientist Valery Karbalevich told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. "The EU will not be able to act as a mediator for the simple reason that Alexander Lukashenko categorically refuses to enter into any negotiations with opponents inside the country. Therefore, all of the EU’s efforts in this regard will have no effect," he added.

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U.S. held back on Belarus sanctions, hoping for joint move with EU

Reuters September 30, 2020

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has held off on joining Britain and Canada in imposing sanctions on Belarus in hopes the European Union can overcome an internal dispute, paving the way to coordinated U.S. and EU sanctions, four sources said on Wednesday.

The EU had vowed in August to impose sanctions on Belarus for alleged fraud in its Aug. 9 election and for human rights abuses since, but Cyprus, one of its smallest members, has prevented this.

Cyprus has maintained it will not agree to the Belarusian sanctions unless the EU also puts sanctions on Turkey because of a separate dispute over Turkish drilling for oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Six sources told Reuters last week that Britain, Canada and the United States planned to impose sanctions on individual Belarusians in a coordinated move. Only London and Ottawa followed suit on Tuesday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, three sources on Wednesday said Washington refrained because it believed the EU might achieve consensus at this week's European Council meeting.

One source in Washington familiar with the matter told Reuters that a U.S. package, including human rights sanctions, was essentially ready, but the timing of any announcement was uncertain.

The sanctions aim to impose consequences for the disputed election, which the opposition says was stolen, and for the treatment of protesters in Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled for 26 years.

More than 12,000 people have been arrested since Lukashenko, who denies electoral fraud, was named the election's landslide winner. Major opposition figures are either in jail or in exile.

A Cyprus source said there was a "political agreement" on Turkish sanctions at an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting in Berlin in August and Cyprus remained ready to implement it though it was not clear precisely what the source meant.

"It's not a question of softening or hardening of (Cyprus') position, the source said.

After the meeting, Germany's foreign ministry said ministers agreed on their "solidarity with Greece and Cyprus" but stressed that constructive dialogue with Turkey was vital to resolve "contentious issues in the eastern Mediterranean."

The embassy of Cyprus in Washington, the White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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BAJ and media urge authorities to withdraw lawsuit against TUT.BY and stop pressure on media

01.10.2020 Source: BAJ press service

Joint statement of the Belarusian Association of Journalists and media

On September 18, the Ministry of Information filed a lawsuit to the Economic Court to shut down “TUT.BY” as an online publication. The Ministry of Information claims, the grounds for the lawsuit are four warnings “due to violation of articles 4 and 49 of the Law on Mass Media" by TUT.BY. The warnings were issued by the Ministry of Information itself, the facts of violation of the law were not established by court, while the deadline for the appeal against three of the warnings has not yet expired, although the Ministry claims the opposite in its press release.

By his order of September 29, 2020, Minister of Information Ihar Lutski suspended production of the online publication “TUT.BY” from October 1, 2020 until December 30, 2020.

In this regard, the Belarusian Association of Journalists and Belarusian media state the following:

Yes, the Belarusian legislation allows the Ministry of Information to suspend production of a publication or to file a lawsuit to shut it down. Partially, this was balanced out by the Ministry's policy to restrain from abusing these powers in recent years. Still, on the ground of its lawsuits courts ruled to close Svaboda newspaper in 1997, Pahonia newspaper -- in 2001, and Zhoda newspaper in 2006. In 2011, the Ministry of Information filed a lawsuit to close Narodnaya Volya and Nasha Niva newspapers, but withdrew it following the response of Belarusian society and international community. It is noteworthy that almost all lawsuits to shut down mass media were linked to presidential elections, this way or another. Meanwhile, it is the freedom of political discussion that is most protected by international law. The pressure on TUT.BY and the restriction of access to independent websites, carried out by the Ministry of Information, constitute a gross violation of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus

Hindrances for most popular media in Belarus not only violate the freedom of reporting, but also restrict the right of people to receive information on the situation in the country and demonstrate disregard for its citizens. Moreover, restrictions on serious media resources would inevitably lead to a situation where citizens, unable to receive verified information from the media, would turn to unverified information, rumors or propaganda (including the sources undermining the information security of the Republic of Belarus).

We:

- urge the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus to withdraw the lawsuit to close TUT.BY online publication and cancel the decision to suspend it;

- demand to revoke the decision to restrict access to websites covering socio-political problems in the country, and to remove obstacles in the production and distribution of independent print media;

- call to put an immediate end to the harassment of journalists and the media for doing their professional activities and to lift all unconstitutional restrictions on freedom of speech in Belarus.

October 1, 2020

The Belarusian Association of Journalists

Onliner.by

Nasha Niva

Citydog.by

BelaPAN News Agency

European Radio for Belarus

RFE/RL

BelGazeta

Svobodnye Novosti Plus

Ejednevnik

Novy Chas

REFORM.by

Salidarnasts

Association of Regional Press Publishers "United Media"

The joint statement is open for other media To sign the statement, please email us at press@baj.by. The statement will be sent to the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus and other state bodies

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US lawmakers to debate bill on human rights in Belarus

According to the document, the US authorities do not recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate President of Belarus

TASS, October 1. Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee have submitted a bill on democracy and human rights in Belarus to the US House of Representatives, the committee said in a statement Wednesday.

"We stand with the historic numbers of peaceful Belarusian protesters that continue to flood the streets to demand a more democratic country. Their voices must be heard and the Belarusian authorities using violence, arbitrary detentions and repression in an attempt to stifle their calls to chart their own future must be held accountable," House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican Leader Michael McCaul commented on the bill.

According to the document, the US authorities do not recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate President of Belarus and call to hold new presidential elections in accordance with OSCE standards as well as total release of all political prisoners. Moreover, the bill makes it possible to expand the list of Belarusian and Russian citizens who can have sanctions imposed on them linked to their opposition to activities of independent media.

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One of largest investors of Dubai comes to Belarusian market

1 October 2020

A guest from the United Arab Emirates, a long-standing and friendly partner of the Belarusian state, is in Minsk today. President Alexander Lukashenko discussed upcoming investment projects with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company Emaar Properties. Muhammad Ali Al-Abbar came to our capital a year ago. It was just about investments in the real sector of the economy. The billionaire returned with investments in several projects at once. One of them is "Smart City". These are buildings in the northern part of Minsk. Over 4 billion euros was invested. The construction of social facilities is also planned.

Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus: "I would like to note punctuality and commitment. We agreed to work together a year ago. Then a number of projects were conceived, which you took into consideration. The times in the world are not easy now, the challenge to humanity in many areas. The investments that you are planning are very useful to us. I remember your promise to build here the most beautiful buildings that will be the hallmark of the Emirates in the center of Europe. I am ready to discuss today all the issues that have arisen, and if there are problems, I am ready to solve them immediately."

Muhammad Ali Al-Abbar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emaar Properties: "Thank you for taking the time for this meeting, and I am glad to return to Minsk. First of all, I would like to thank you for the warm welcome shown on the Belarusian land."

Muhammad Ali Al-Abbar is a co-owner of investment, real estate and logistics companies. His business is present in 50 countries around the world. Now Belarus is among them. Emaar Properties has implemented the largest construction projects in Dubai, including the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, and one of the largest shopping and entertainment centers, Dubai Mall. The Smart City project will be launched tomorrow.

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Investor: Decision of Belarus not to stop economy because of COVID-19 proves its effectiveness

A guest from the United Arab Emirates, an old and friendly partner of the Belarusian state, is in Minsk today. President Alexander Lukashenko discussed with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emaar Properties the upcoming investment projects. Muhammad Ali Al-Abbar came to our capital a year ago. It was just about investments in the real sector of the economy. The billionaire returned to invest in several large projects at once. One of them is "Smart City". This is a development in the northern part of Minsk with modern education and healthcare facilities. Over 4 billion euros was invested.

Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus: "The world is complicated nowdays, humanity is challenged in many areas. There is a struggle for an investor. The investments that you are planning are very useful to us. I remember your promise that you will build here the most beautiful buildings that will be the hallmark of the Emirates in the center of Europe. I am ready to discuss today all the issues that have arisen, and if there are problems, I am ready to solve them immediately."

Muhammad Ali Al-Abbar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emaar Properties: "I am glad to return to Minsk. I would like to congratulate you on many things. First, on a practical victory over the virus. The policy you have chosen in this regard, has proven its effectiveness. I communicate with many leaders. They say that the damage caused by the closure of the economy for one month cannot be restored. The President of Serbia asked me to convey to you the warmest greetings, and I congratulate you on my own behalf on winning the elections. We have never doubted the result, we have always appreciated the policy that you are pursuing, the achievements that your country has in terms of living standards of the population, security, and other parameters."

The Smart City project will be launched tomorrow.

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EU leaders overcome Cyprus veto, agree to Belarus sanctions

By LORNE COOK October 2, 2020 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders agreed early Friday to impose sanctions on dozens of senior officials in Belarus accused of falsifying presidential election results and leading a crackdown on peaceful protesters, after unblocking a veto against the move by one of the EU’s smallest member countries.

In an embarrassing standoff, Cyprus had insisted that its EU partners take action against Turkey for its energy exploration work in disputed waters off the Mediterranean island nation’s coast before it would agree to the Belarus sanctions.

But after several hours of talks into the night, the leaders agreed on a strong statement of support for Cyprus, as well as for Greece, and a stern warning to Turkey that it could face punitive measures if it continues the undersea drilling work.

“We have to decided today to implement the sanctions,” European Council President Charles Michel told reporters after chairing the summit in Brussels. “It’s very important to do what we decided a few weeks ago,” and to send a signal that “we are credible.”

Michel said that a special written procedure would be launched on Friday to impose sanctions on about 40 Belarus officials.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko “is not on the current list. But we will follow the developments,” Michel said. The leader once dubbed Europe’s last dictator could be added to the list at a later date, should he refuse to enter into talks with the opposition, EU diplomats have said.

The political row has tarnished the EU’s image. It is also unusual in that all 27 EU member countries, including Cyprus, reject the result of the Aug. 9 election that returned Lukashenko to power for a sixth term. They all want a new election and agree that sanctions should be slapped on several officials.

Ahead of the summit, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said “it is bad that we cannot make it work.”

Throughout Thursday evening, the leaders debated what approach to take in the EU’s increasingly tense ties with Turkey over its drilling in the Mediterranean Sea, its roles in the conflicts in Libya and Syria, and as a sometimes troublesome source of migrants trying to reach Europe.

In a summit statement, they agreed that if Turkey continues to react positively in talks with Cyprus and Greece the bloc will “launch a positive political EU-Turkey agenda” with trade and customs incentives, and they held out the prospect of more money and benefits for continued cooperation on migrant flows.

If not, the leaders warned, “the EU will use all the instruments and the options at its disposal,” to “defend its interests and those of its Member States.”

“It is now Turkey that has to prove that it wants to go the constructive road with us, and this is the offer tonight. But we are very clear that in the opposite case we have all necessary tools at our disposal,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

French President Emmanuel Macron was staunch in his support for his European partners, saying that “solidarity is non-negotiable” when it comes to Cyprus, but also to Greece in its long-running dispute with Turkey.

“When a European Union member state is attacked, threatened, when its territorial waters are not respected, it’s the duty of Europeans to show their solidarity,” Macron said.

As it turned out, Cyprus was making its stand at a summit that came on the 60th anniversary of its independence.

In a televised address to the nation, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades expressed his “sincere gratitude to all European Union member states for their staunch support and solidarity in light of Turkey’s provocations.”

But Anastasiades said he wanted the EU to take “a more tangible and effective stance to bring about an end to gunboat diplomacy and for the crisis to be succeeded by dialogue or recourse to the international court on the basis of international law and the law of the sea.”

Making the same point, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, “the time has come for Europe to discuss with courage and honesty what kind of relationship it truly wants to have with Turkey. One thing is certain: Turkish provocation, whether this is expressed through unilateral actions or extreme rhetoric, can no longer be tolerated.

In Ankara, meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described his country’s operations in the eastern Mediterranean its most important “naval struggle of the past few centuries.”

During a speech in parliament, Erdogan said the EU had turned into an “ineffective, horizonless and shallow” structure and become a “slave to the conceit” of Greece and Cyprus. However, he also said that Turkey is committed to resolving disputes through dialogue.

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House Members Introduce Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act

October 1, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the Alexander Lukashenka regime’s violent crackdown and political repression following the fraudulent August 9, 2020 election, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX) Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (R-OH), Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), and Congressman William Keating (D-MA) introduced the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020. The Act would provide for the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Belarus as well as support the aspirations of the Belarusian people to preserve the independence and sovereignty of their country in the face of the threat posed by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

“The world is recognizing what the struggling—but courageous—people of Belarus have been saying loud and clear since August 9 with their massive rallies: the recent election was fraudulent, and has no credibility with anyone save Lukashenka, and perhaps Russia,” said Rep. Smith, who noted H.R. 8438 updates and reauthorizes his previous legislation enacted in 2004, 2006 and 2011 to advance and promote democracy and human rights in Belarus. “This bipartisan bill renews sanctions on Belarusian Government officials who have obstructed the country’s democratic transition. It gives much-needed support to the besieged Belarusian media, and to the IT sector. Some of the unlikely heroes of this struggle are Belarusian hackers, who have cracked Lukashenko’s firewall, and have been able to broadcast truthful accounts to the Belarusian people of the news of the day. This bill also commissions several much-needed fact-finding efforts to get a better picture of the situation on the ground. The Belarusian people are fighting to preserve the independence and sovereignty of their country in the face of the threat posed by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.”

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Engel said, “Lukashenka has demonstrated time and time again that he is a brutal dictator interested only in the preservation of his own interests and maintaining his grip on power – no matter the cost. We continue to stand with the peaceful protestors in Belarus, who have turned out in historic numbers demanding a freer, more democratic nation and a free and fair election. With this legislation, the United States Congress once again sends the bipartisan message that the United States will not tolerate Lukashenka’s brutality and illegitimate claims to power. The will of the Belarusian people must be respected, and I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to send that message to Lukashenka, the people of Belarus, and the Russian dictator next door.”

“We stand with the historic numbers of peaceful Belarusian protesters that continue to flood the streets to demand a more democratic country. Their voices must be heard and the Belarusian authorities using violence, arbitrary detentions and repression in an attempt to stifle their calls to chart their own future must be held accountable,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican Leader Rep. McCaul. “This Act sends an unmistakable message to the Belarusian dictator and his supporters in the Kremlin that the United States will neither accept Lukashenka’s illegitimate rule nor allow Belarus’ sovereignty to be handed over to Russia against the will of the Belarusian people.”

Rep. Kaptur said, “As a longtime supporter of liberty in Central and Eastern Europe, I am pleased to co-lead this bill to demonstrate resolute bipartisan support for the Belarusian people against the tyranny of the Lukashenko regime. This measure will provide for robust sanctions against human rights offenders, and hopefully pave a path toward new elections and peaceful transitions of power. I stand ready to work with my colleagues to boost U.S. assistance for Belarusian civil society through upcoming spending bills.

Rep. Kinzinger said, “I’m proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation that formally condemns the fraudulent August election in Belarus and shows strong U.S. support for the sovereignty of the Belarusian people. We stand with the freedom-loving people around the world, especially those who are oppressed. Our legislation calls for the crackdown on peaceful demonstrators to end, for all those who have been unjustly detained to be released, and for a transparent and fair electoral process. With foreign assistance parameters and coordination with our European partners, our efforts here can help ensure the voices of the Belarusian people will be heard.”

Rep. Keating said, “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to affirm our continued support for Belarusians working tirelessly towards democracy,” said Congressman Bill Keating, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment. “Their asks are simple. Belarusians want a government that is accountable to the people, that adheres to the rule of law, that respects their human rights, and that conducts itself in accordance with not just European, but global standards and norms. We must pass this legislation to show the Belarusian people that we hear their calls for democracy and justice, and that America stands beside them.”


Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020:

Reauthorizes the 2004 Belarus Democracy Act for the third time following the fraudulent August 9, 2020 election and the Lukashenka regime’s violent crackdown on the peaceful protests;
States that it is U.S. policy to
• reject the fraudulent August 9, 2020 Belarusian presidential election;
• refuse to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimately elected leader of Belarus;
• call for a new presidential election in Belarus that complies with OSCE standards;
• continue to call for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus, including U.S. citizen Vitali Shkliarov and leading opposition figure Maryia Kalesnikava;
• refuse to recognize any incorporation of Belarus into a so-called “Union State” that is under the control of Russia;
• Expands the list of Belarusian authorities who may be subject to U.S. sanctions beyond the country’s senior leadership and security services to include those directly responsible for the crackdown on independent media;
• Further strengthens the current human rights sanctions regime on Belarus to include Russian individuals complicit in the political repression in Belarus and the crackdown on independent media;
• Authorizes U.S. assistance to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Belarus and calls on the Administration to reevaluate and increase U.S. assistance to Belarus in light of the current political crisis;
• Calls on the President to provide the United States Agency for Global Media with a surge capacity for its programs and activities in Belarus;
• Requires a U.S. strategy to promote expanded broadcasting, internet freedom and access to information in Belarus;
• Calls on the United States to continue to coordinate with the European Union, its member states, the United Kingdom and Canada to support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people and to deter Russia’s attempts to undermine Belarus’ sovereignty and independence; and
• Requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to submit two reports to Congress on
• Russia’s efforts to undermine Belarus’ sovereignty and independence; and
• the assets owned by Lukashenka.

It is anticipated that the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020 will be marked up by the House Foreign Affairs Committee tomorrow, which would then allow the bill to move to the floor for a possible vote by the full House of Representatives.

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“Non-violence is a weapon of the strong.” Mahatma Gandhi
Today is the International Day of Non-Violence. It is observed by the United Nations annually on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Non-violence is a method of combatting violence without resorting to violence - through commitment, solidarity, creativity, education, negotiation and peaceful action. For the past four and a half months, we have witnessed how the people of Belarus live the principle of non-violence in their demands that their fundamental civil and political rights be observed, in their aspiration that their country be ruled by law. For that we admire them, and we take this opportunity to call on every person in authority to follow suit. In the words of Martin Luther King, “Non-violence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.” It is the only way to a safe, free and prosperous future for Belarus.
The heads and representatives of the Minsk-based diplomatic missions of the EU and its Member States, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the US.

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European Council approves Polish plan for Belarus - PM

The European Council at its extraordinary two-day summit that started in Brussels on Thursday approved the Polish plan for economic support for a democratic Belarus, PM Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Friday morning.

"I'm very pleased to say that yesterday, after a very long debate, the European Council approved the economic plan for a democratic Belarus that we had put forward," Morawiecki said.

"It was a consequence of our actions over the past few weeks. First, we presented the plan to our partners from the Visegrad Group (V4) in Ljubljana, then, a week ago, we presented the plan at the European Commission to President Ursula von der Leyen, and (now - PAP) she was also tasked by the European Commission, which has been put into the (summit - PAP) conclusions, to further develop the plan and present it for execution in the following months," the Polish prime minister said.

The Central European lobby group V4 comprises the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

Morawiecki said the plan must support democratic changes in Belarus.

"We want to also involve in this plan international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and, in particular, European institutions: the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank," the Polish prime minister said.

"Given the difficult situation in Belarus, we should be satisfied that the whole European Council agreed to such an economic plan, because it is a positive offer for Belarusian society," Morawiecki also said, thanking his V4 partners for their involvement.

The European Council on Thursday also made a decision to implement sanctions on Belarusian officials, but the list does not include President Alexander Lukashenko. The Council also condemned the violence, harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions by Belarusian authorities against peaceful demonstrators who contest the August presidential election results, according to which strongman Lukashenko won yet another term of office as president. The EU does not recognise the result as valid.

The Council called upon the Belarusian government to put an end to the violence and repression, to release all those who are detained and political prisoners, to respect the freedom of the media and the civil society, as well as to begin a dialogue.

The V4 economic plan envisages the creation of a EUR 1 bln stabilisation fund, support for small and medium-sized companies, opening of the EU's single market to Belarusian companies and visa facilitations.

Other points of the plan include long-term infrastructure investments, negotiations of a new framework agreement with an economic angle, support for Belarusian energy security and sector reforms.

Belarus has been torn by protests since the August 9 presidential election, in which Lukashenko won a 6th term in office with 80.1 percent of the vote against main contender Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's 10.1 percent. Mass demonstrations against what is held to have been a rigged vote have been continuing ever since, sparking brutal reactions from the police and security forces. (PAP)

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Kremlin positive about EU’s decision to refrain from blacklisting Lukashenko

The spokesman noted that Russia's general attitude to the sanctions is rather negative

MOSCOW, October 2. /TASS/. The Kremlin believes that the European Union’s decision not to blacklist Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is a positive sign, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

When commenting on the fact that Lukashenko was not on the EU’s sanctions list, he said that he was "rather positive" about it.

At the same time, Peskov pointed out that "on the whole, we have a very negative attitude to the policy of sanctions." "In any case, it demonstrates weakness rather than strength," he explained.

"Had top state officials or the head of state been blacklisted, it would have destroyed any possibility of contacts with the country and deprived the EU of the chance to maintain dialogue with Belarus, particularly for the sake of discussing issues of mutual interest," the Russian presidential spokesman noted.

On Friday, European Union leaders agreed on a package of sanctions against some 40 Belarusian officials but held back from blacklisting President Lukashenko. According to the EU, sanctions against Lukashenko would have undermined the EU’s demand for him to launch dialogue with the opposition. However, European Council President Charles Michel reiterated that EU leaders did not recognize the outcome of the Belarusian presidential election.