Czech Young Conservatives Uphold Democracy in Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

The Young Conservatives of the Czech Republic have circulated their statement in support of the democratic transformations in Belarus, calling on their government to help influence the unfortunate situation in Belarus. Following read the full transcript of the address.

“We, Young Conservatives, deeply sympathize and support democratic, pro-European youth movement in Belarus and at the same time we are very worried about the latest development in this country.

We sympathize with all youth and student organizations whose members are being day by day intimidated and persecuted by the Belarusian government. It is matter of course in Europe that government elected in free elections represents all citizens of the state and not just some. But the government in Belarus persecutes and punishes the citizens disagreeing with the governing elite and tries to rout democratic opposition.

Young Conservatives have doubts regarding the regularity of the presidential election that took place last year and so we call on the Czech government, parliament and also other European countries to closely watch the observing of the human rights, which Belarus took a vow in 1948 to, by signing the declaration of human rights. Some members of Young Conservatives have visited Belarus several times as independent observers and have seen violations of the human and civil rights and have witnessed machinations of the present Belarusian government.

Several leaders of democratic youth organizations were arrested and sentenced at the end of March this year simply because they took a part in a peaceful gathering in a memorandum of the establishment of People’s Republic of Belarus. People are not being punished anywhere else in the world for celebrating of the independence. The action of the judge in this case is unacceptable. We find this decision politically motivated as such convicting the present government of Belarus undemocratic.

The democratic organizations in Minsk are organizing a demonstration on April 19. It is going to be March of protest “We can’t live like that”. Young Conservatives are hoping that the Belarusian government will not repress this demonstration and its organizers and will allow peaceful meeting of Belarusian citizens.”