It’s an opportunity European foreign ministers should seize. When they virtually meet on August 14, they have a chance to agree on tough measures against the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. The strongman, in power since 1994, claimed an overwhelming victory in last Sunday’s election.
Forget the fact that the polls were rigged. Or how bags with ballots cast for the opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, were taken away. Or how over 6,000 people have been arrested and two already have been killed by the country’s heavily armed security forces. And that Tikhanovskaya was forced to leave the country. She is now in neighboring Lithuania, whose leadership, particularly Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius, has shown unflinching support for the pro-democracy demonstrations.
THE EU HAS A FEEBLE RECORD ON AUTHORITARIANISM
It’s an opportunity European foreign ministers should seize. When they virtually meet on August 14, they have a chance to agree on tough measures against the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. The strongman, in power since 1994, claimed an overwhelming victory in last Sunday’s election.
Forget the fact that the polls were rigged. Or how bags with ballots cast for the opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, were taken away. Or how over 6,000 people have been arrested and two already have been killed by the country’s heavily armed security forces. And that Tikhanovskaya was forced to leave the country. She is now in neighboring Lithuania, whose leadership, particularly Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius, has shown unflinching support for the pro-democracy demonstrations.
SPEAKING OUT WOULD HELP THE EU
In all these cases, the EU has opted for the status quo. In doing so, it has eschewed its commitment to values. Even if some EU leaders would argue they are pursuing their interests, this is a flawed argument. It is not in the interests of Europe to have authoritarian regimes as neighbors. Over time, such regimes are not sustainable or stable, as Belarus proves. Its citizens want the values that the EU professes to represent.
If their leaders won’t share power or respect human rights, sooner or later the citizens will try to change the system. This is what they are trying to do in Belarus. They need a response from Europe.
It’s an opportunity European foreign ministers should seize. When they virtually meet on August 14, they have a chance to agree on tough measures against the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. The strongman, in power since 1994, claimed an overwhelming victory in last Sunday’s election.
Forget the fact that the polls were rigged. Or how bags with ballots cast for the opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, were taken away. Or how over 6,000 people have been arrested and two already have been killed by the country’s heavily armed security forces. And that Tikhanovskaya was forced to leave the country. She is now in neighboring Lithuania, whose leadership, particularly Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius, has shown unflinching support for the pro-democracy demonstrations.
