Vital Rymasheuski: Authorities have already responded to EU’s weakness with new criminal cases

The persecution of Andrej Hajdukou and a new criminal case on the article 193.1 are the reaction of official Minsk to Brussels’ soft position, the politician believes.

This is how the co-chairman of the organizational committee for creation of a party Belarusian Christian Democracy Vital Rymasheuski commented for the charter97.org web-site on the EU Council’s decision to exclude Uladzimir Makej from the sanction list. It was taken today at a session of the heads of MFAs of European Union member-states in Luxembourg.

“I consider this decision absolutely mistaken, because it sends a negative message to the supporter of change in Belarus, the people disagreeing with the Lukashenka regime’s policies, who account for over a half of the country now. Support from democratic countries is very important to them today. A moral and principled position of the West is important. The suspension of sanctions against Uladzimir Makej sends a negative message. At the same time Lukashenka and his administration received another confirmation that the European Union practically does not have any leverage to influence the situation in Belarus today. Uladzimir Makej was included in the black list not simply as another official, but because human rights activists considered him involved in the events that took part after the presidential elections in 2010. The consequences of those repressions are still felt by many Belarusians. Many activists of opposition are compelled to stay abroad. Political prisoners remain in custody. It does not make sense to take a decision to exclude the head of the Belarusian MFA from the list, at least until they are released”, - Vital Rymasheuski stated.

The politician is sure that the recent actions of the Belarusian authorities, in particular the persecution of believers, are a reaction on the EU’s position.

“The Belarusian regime adequately assesses Brussels’ actions and there is already an answer to them. It is the experiment in the form of the secretive trial of Andrej Hajdukou, the initiation of a criminal case for the violation of the article 193.1 against the creator of a shelter for homeless in Shchuchyn district, the increased pressure on Baptist churches, which is stated in the Forum 18’s report. These steps of the regime show that EU’s position is perceived as weak in Minsk, as a signal for increasing repressions in the country”, - Vital Rymasheuski claimed.