Russian powers should pay heed to criticism towards Lukashenka :: Charter'97 :: News

General Secretary of the Russian Union of Journalists Igor Yakovenko shares the position concerning the situation around Belarus of the Council of the President of the Russian Federation on Assistance in Development of Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights headed by Ella Pamphilova. The Council members addressed Aliaxandar Lukashenka with an open letter, where they claimed the situation in the scope of civil rights and liberties in Belarus is unfavourable and causes deep concern. “I am ready to agree with each word of this address. It is undoubtedly very correct and timely. But I deem some of the reproaches stated in the letter may be addressed to the Russian powers as well,” - Yakovenko told Interfax.

In particular, according to him, “Russia and Belarus are not only geographical neighbours, but in the rating of freedom of speech they occupy one political field.”

Chairperson of the party Nash Vybor Irina Khakamada in her turn also accepted the contents of the letter and expressed the opinion that “it is rather addressed to the Russian leadership than to Belarusian President.”

“Lukashenka is building dictatorship in Belarus, and no appeals can influence him. Everything depends on the position that the Russian leadership will take,” - I. Khakamada told Interfax.

Besides E. Pamphilova, the Council comprises chairperson of the Moscow-Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alekseeva, president of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy Sergei Karaganov, sociologist Yuriy Levada, President of the Russian TV Academy Vladimir Pozner, children’s doctor Leonid Roshal, TV-journalist Vladimir Solov’ov and others.

The authors of the letter stress, in particular, that “private social and political Mass Media do not practically function in Belarus”; “conditions for proper functioning of independent public and remedial organizations are being gradually destroyed by administrative pressure”; “electoral legislature and the practice of its implementation in Belarus do not ensure legitimate outcome of the people’s will” etc.