Deputy assistant secretary at the US Department of State David Merkel: “New sanctions against Belarusian government are possible”

David Merkel, deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the US Department of State said on an interview to Radio Svaboda that Washington can expand sanctions already implemented against the Belarusian regime because of massive violation of human rights.

- The US has fulfilled demands of the Belarusian regime, and 10 diplomats have left Belarus. It Washington ready to do some further steps as a response to this expulsion?

- I think State Department spokesman Tom Casey clarified the situation. He said that that action was “unjustified and unwarranted,” that all possible responses would be considered, the effect of the Embassy’s work after reducing the diplomats’ mission in Minsk would be judged and probably there would be an answer to that unjustified and unwarranted act. I think it is necessary to observe that the reason for all of that is our uncompromising support of human rights and political prisoners in Belarus and criticism of actions of the government.

- You have said that the US is considering possible variants of actions. Does that mean that all variants are considered, including expulsion of Belarusian diplomats for instance?

- We are considering all variants, but it is not “tit for tat” tactics. It always started with the Belarusian side, and was always accompanied by requests to limit possibilities of the US Embassy to carry out normal diplomatic work and support the desire of Belarusians for greater freedom.

- Does the US coordinate its actions with the EU?

- We are in a close contact with the European partners. It is important, especially in connection with the reduced diplomatic presence of the US in Minsk. It is also important to indicate that the EU expands its sanctions against Belarusian officials until March 28 of the next year. Thus we are in a close contact with our European allies.

- You recall Europe’s sanctions. The US have frozen bank accounts belonging to Belnaftakhim company, and prohibited US citizens to make business with this company. Does Washington consider additional sanctions?

- It’s a good question as it is important to remember that sanctions are connected with situation with the human rights and with political prisoners. The Belarusian regime has been given a possibility to release all the six political prisoners. However they haven’t released Kazulin, but instead of that they imprisoned two more political prisoners. Thus, sanctions have been put into force. What they are trying to do is pressure on our embassy in a hope that we would compromise. We are not going to. Sanctions are connected with human rights and political prisoners. As long as Belarusian government continues its negative path to self-isolation, new sanctions are possible in the future.

- On Tuesday the Belarusian leader scornfully old about the demands of the West to release political prisoners including Kazulin. He compared this oppositionist with a used toilet paper. What is the reaction of the US?

- I find it dishonorable. Let’s not forget why Kazulin is in the Belarusian prison. He had organized a protest rally, as world community had expressed doubt that the presidential election was fair. He was sentenced to 5 and half years of imprisonment for that. His wife suffered from cancer and died while he was in prison. Recently Belarusian authorities arrested a young man Andrei Kim. He was sentenced to a year and a half imprisonment for unsanctioned protest rally of entrepreneurs as well. I think that Lukashenka’s comments are shocking.

- How do you think, why the Belarusian regime has decided to hold these people behind bars?

- I can only imagine that Lukashenka feels threat if Alyaksandr Kazulin was released and could get support in the country freely. The agreement which had been signed with the Belarusian authorities was that all the six political prisoners would be released simultaneously. The Belarusian regime was either unable or didn’t want to release Alyaksandr Kazulin, and it is possibly because they feel threat from his side.

- In his speech on Tuesday Lukashenka called the opposition “a group of uncontrollable idlers, who want to play revolutionaries”. How would you describe the Belarusian opposition?

- I can describe them as courageous people. To do the things they do knowing the ruthlessness of the regime is courageous. Syarhei Parsyukevich, another prisoner, was recently sentenced to 2.5 years also organized a demonstration. That is why I am not surprised Lukashenka attacked these people. But I think that everyone who would look at their actions would call them courageous. The fact is that they, the Belarusian youth, and the bright future for this country and people living there are connected with them.

- And finally, what does the US and the West, the whole international community expects from Belarus?

- To my mind, the Belarusian government leads to further isolation of the country. I think that the Belarusian nation wants the same things Europeans, Americans and people all over the world do. For Belarusians it is a possibility to be integrated in Europe fully, to have a possibility to elect government freely, to have a chance to express themselves freely on problems disturbing them, without a fear of being arrested and flung into prison.