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If this radical step by the Belarusian dictator is not counterproductive.
Belarusian border guards have prevented the head of the Catholic Church in Belarus, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, from returning to his home country. The 74-year-old has been de facto since morning locked out of Belarus.
Observers suspect that the reason for this is the sympathy of the Catholic Church in the country for the democratic protests against the dictator Lukashenko. In recent weeks, several bishops and priests had spoken out in favor of the opposition movement and even granted asylum in churches and monasteries to protesters persecuted by Lukashenko’s coup troops. It is also known from history books: The peaceful revolution in the GDR in 1989 began with Monday prayers in Leipzig.
So now the counterattack of the regime in Minsk. But that could be counterproductive.
About eight percent of the Belarusian population describes themselves as Roman Catholic, the second largest religious community after the Orthodox (about 83 percent). After the archbishop’s lockout was known, there were already strong protests and expressions of solidarity on social networks.
Photo: Picture Alliance / AP Photo
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/papst-franziskus-mit-erzbischof-kondrusiewicz-im-oktober-2018-in-rom-201515830-72666714/Bild/4.bild. jpg “/> Pope Francis with Archbishop Kondrusiewicz in Rome in October 2018Photo: Picture Alliance / AP Photo
Archbishop Kondrusiewicz himself spoke to “Radio Free Europe” from the border area between Poland and Belarus. He said: “I am at the crossroads of Kuznitsa, I was not allowed to enter (to Belarus, d. Red.) “. He was promised an explanation for the exclusion “soon,” said the 74-year-old, who has led the Catholic Church in Belarus since 2015. “I can’t say more yet.”
Germany appoints ambassadors
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry in Berlin summoned the Belarusian ambassador to an “urgent discussion” on Monday. This was announced by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin. The trigger was the arrest of journalists at the weekend, which had already been heavily criticized by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
German members have also been withdrawn from the so-called bilateral “strategic advisory group” with immediate effect. “The objective of the advisory group to intensify bilateral politics, the economy, culture and civil society is not achievable in view of the current situation,” said the spokesman for reason.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert stressed that the German government was “firmly” on the side of the peaceful protesters in Belarus who demanded their rights. He called on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to recognize “the realities in the country” and to initiate a dialogue with the opposition. The bravery of the protesters is impressive.
