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He said it would be important for Belarusians protesting against the regime to hear whether they can count on a free trade agreement with Europe and financial support from Brussels.
A Coordinating Council member who visited Lithuania in an interview with BNS said the West could help investigate the regime’s crimes against the people and should sever ties with the current government when Lukashenko’s current term ends.
The former Belarusian Minister of Culture said that he did not want to become a political immigrant and would like to return to Belarus, but that he currently sees the risk that his arrest will soon be arrested.
P.Latuška responded to questions from BNS on Friday evening.
– How can the European Union help the people of Belarus at this time?
– It is very important to receive the support of the EU for the changes we seek in our country. But dialogue must take place not only with the EU, but also with our other important partner, the Russian Federation. We do not want friendship with the EU to be directed against Russia or for friendship with Russia to be directed against the EU. We seek a normal balance.
The Belarusian public is waiting for very specific signals or information about what the EU can offer in a democratic process, such as a free trade agreement, support from EU financial institutions or special financial support for the Belarusian economy through democratic reforms. But again, I want to emphasize that this is not directed against Russia, because we are in the middle between two major foreign policy centers in Moscow and Brussels.
In the short term, international law firms could prepare a dossier on violence against the Belarusian people and political prisoners for future legal decisions at EU level.
It is also very important for us to hear the voice of the EU on the treatment of the Belarusian authorities after November 5, when the current term of the President of Belarus ends, whether agreements are signed, decisions are made on the appointment of ambassadors or visit official delegations.
Belarusian society has decided that it wants a new president and will never agree with the current government of Belarus. Therefore, it is very important how Brussels implements its foreign policy with Belarus after 5 November.
– Do you expect EU countries to stop communicating with the regime after this date?
– That is not what I expect, it is what the majority of Belarusian society expects. It would be a big problem if, if the changes are not achieved before November 5, the current government continues to communicate with the EU, a large part of Belarusian society would not accept it.
– The headquarters of former candidate Viktor Babaryka recently announced the formation of a new political party. How much is the opposition united to the regime at this time?
– Stay together and our goals are common. The Coordinating Council is recognized, the first is to put an end to the violence and bring those responsible to justice, and the second is to hold new elections because the last election was rigged. These objectives are shared by all political actors.
– Which are your future plans? Is it safe for you to return to Belarus?
– I do not want to become a political immigrant or a political refugee. I want to be in Belarus. I express my position as a citizen of Belarus, I have not violated the law or the Constitution. However, two cases have been brought against me and the Coordination Council, so they can arrest me as soon as I return to Belarus. I am doing my best with my partners to find a solution to this situation.
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P.Latuška was Belarus Minister of Culture in 2009-2012, then served as Ambassador to France, and when he returned to Minsk last year, he was appointed director of the Janka Kupala National Academic Theater.
S. Latuška was removed from this post in mid-August because he supported the theater staff’s position on rigged elections.
Belarus has been protesting for a month since the August 9 presidential elections, which were won by authoritarian leader Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994. The opposition and Western countries consider these elections to be rigged.
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