Vital Rymasheuski: EU gives Lukashenka go-ahead to start new repression

Lifting sanctions from Makei will be a signal for the Belarusian regime to start repression in the run-up to 2015.

Vital Rymasheuski, a co-chair of the organising committee to found the Belarusian Christian Democracy party (BCD), spoke to charter97.org about a possible lifting of the EU sanctions from Belarusian foreign minister Uladzimir Makei.

“I think it would be a big mistake. I'd like to emphasise that criminal case over article 193.1 of the Criminal Code (activity on behalf of an unregistered organisation) was initiated against Aliaksei Shchadrou on June 11. He is a religious man, Catholic, who opened a shelter for homeless people. The case of Andrei Haidukou and the case of Aliaksei Shchadrou mark the start of Aliaksandr Lukashenka's campaign for the 2015 presidential elections. These criminal case on political articles threaten the entire democratic movement in Belarus,” the politician is sure.

He thinks the Belarusian regime tests the reaction of the international community and the country' civil society in such a way.

“Repressions have toughened recently in Belarus. Confinement conditions for some political prisoners were strengthened in the last 6 months. If the EU's reaction to these facts is lifting a visa ban from Makei on no grounds, it will be the go-ahead for the Belarusian regime to start repression in the run-up to 2015. Europe will show its helplessness before Lukashenka's authoritarianism,” Vital Rymasheuski said.