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According to L. Linkevičius, the purpose of the meeting was to reassess the situation and find common points of view.
“I think it was successful because, not to mention that we do not recognize the results of those elections, everyone condemns violence and coercion. And that must have consequences. We agree to review relations with Belarus, <...> technical preparations will be launched for the development of specific individual sanctions “, 15 minutes said L. Linkevičius.
VIDEO: Grumpy entrance from isolator: beaten detainees scream
The minister said at the hearing that he mentioned that sanctions should be imposed on those who participated in the falsification of election results and the use of force against protesters. According to L. Linkevičius, it is not clear how soon this will be done.
According to L. Linkevičius, the ministers and the European Commission supported his proposal to establish an assistance fund for victims of repression.
I also suggested that the EU initiate an extraordinary session of the United Nations Human Rights Council and examine everything that has happened, hear testimonies of violations and perhaps even crimes. We will initiate and continue this work through our representatives in Geneva, “he said.
Penalties aren’t just about enthusiasm
Before the meeting, the Reuters news agency announced that at least nine member states do not agree to impose sanctions on Belarus. According to diplomatic sources, the main skeptic is Hungary. According to the non-governmental organization Freedom House, under the current government of Victor Orban the country is no longer a “consolidated democracy”.
L. Linkevičius 15 minutes He acknowledged that “not everyone is excited about the sanctions at this stage,” but emphasized that it is only at this stage.
“But no one opposed the start of technical preparations for sanctions. And that is important, we will continue to work.” We give priority to what can be decided at the EU level, but I do not rule out the possibility that later we can consider and introduce national sanctions, “said the chancellor.
On Friday, EC President Ursula von der Leyen called for additional sanctions on Belarus.
The EU first imposed sanctions on Belarus in 2004. They were reinforced in 2011 for violations of human rights and democratic norms.
Much of the sanctions were lifted in 2016, when Lukashenko ordered the release of political prisoners. There is still an arms embargo, sanctions against four people.
“Internal affairs of Belarus“
According to L. Linkevičius, the Minsk authorities give signals that they are “as if they have a tendency to speak, this has not been said before”.
“The fact that they are now inclined to speak out does not mean that everyone forgets what happened and the crimes that were committed. I reminded them to clarify and make it clear to everyone that if we do not recognize the electoral results, we do not recognize the President-elect. <...> It is necessary to speak to stop the violence, but the state after what happened is already different, “said the minister.
According to L. Linkevičius, there is currently no talk of recognizing Sviatlan Cichanouskaya as president, an opposition candidate who has declared herself the winner of the elections.
“If we don’t recognize the election results, then, apparently logically, we don’t recognize them. But we give them that opportunity to act, and that is their internal business,” he said.
The minister assured that at the meeting the issue of the unsafe Astrava nuclear power plant was raised.
The protests are brutally suppressed
Belarus has been plagued by strong protests against the election results, which the opposition considers manipulated, since Sunday night. Official preliminary results show that Lukashenko scored 80.08 percent and Chichanouskaya 10.9 percent. votes.
VIDEO: Detainees in Belarus spoke of incomprehensible cruelty: “You could hear people being beaten outside all night.”
Approximately 6.7 thousand people were detained as the militia brutally repressed opposition protests. Hundreds of people were injured and two deaths were also reported.
Many of those released from detention centers reported being beaten, tortured and humiliated during detention.
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