Vital Rymasheuski: Lukashenka again hit EU with a hockey stick

Opposition activists will be thrown into jails until the EU tightens its policy in relation to the Lukashenka regime.

Vital Rymasheuski, the co-head of the organising committee to found the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, spoke to charter97.org about new criminal cases against Uladzimir Yaromenak and Vasily Parfiankou.

“The dialogue has begun, but the parties speak different languages each using its own strategy. For the EU, the dialogue is a chance to convey its message and come to a compromise and agreement. For Lukashenka's regime, the dialogue is a chance to get loans, political and economic preferences. Unfortunately, European politicians, in my opinion, don't have a clear understanding of the situation in Belarus. I don't agree that names of only nine political prisoners were included in the draft report. Yauheny Vaskovich and Artsiom Prakapenka were not included in the list. We will work to fix it, because they may be left in prison for seven years,” the politician noted.

He thinks criminal cases against Yaromenak, Parfiankou and Aliaksei Shchadrou, who opened a shelter for homeless people, show the absolute impudence of the authorities who flout human rights.

“Lukashenka's clan is convinced that they can sit at the table with European leaders, while ordinary Belarusians must go to prisons and police stations. It will continue until the EU policy becomes firmer and more critical and until Belarusians learn how to protect one another. Europeans again came to play chess, but Lukashenka hit them with a hockey stick. The Belarusian regime doesn't understand the polite policy of the European Union, the language of diplomacy and modern politics. Everybody plays the game he can play,” the BCD co-head Vital Rymasheuski says.

It should be reminded that a new criminal case against former political prisoner Uladzimir Yaromenak was initiated today. He may face a year in prison. On July 12, another criminal case was initiated against Vasily Parfiankou, an activist involved in the case of post-election protests on December 19, 2010.