President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated that the Republic’s independence needs to be protected. Now all statements of policy are perceived as element of the campaign. Meanwhile, Lukashenko has spoiled relations with Russia and the West, and present achievements in foreign policy on the eve of the vote, he can’t. It is the sovereignty of the Republic and external forces that encroach on the independence of Belarus, will be the Central themes of his campaign.
Jun 22, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko spoke in Brest at the event dedicated to the anniversary of the great Patriotic war. In the course of communication with the participants of the event, the President stated the need to protect the independence of Belarus.
“any Catastrophe, but we need to protect what you have. To relax in any case impossible. I warned you two or three months ago that this so-called pandemic this will not end. Someone is very hands on. Will soon see who. Although I now see it.
there Will be serious pressure, primarily economic. Because the war with us is dangerous, and tilt is necessary. Too become independent”, — quotes the words of President BelTA.
On the eve of the presidential elections the situation in the Republic is quite tense and any statements of the head of state is perceived in the framework of his election campaign, which has become difficult for Lukashenko.
21 Jun candidate for President Victor Babariko and his son Eduardo were indicted in the case of Belgazprombank. According to the prosecution, on the basis of the Bank acted organized criminal group, which is deduced money abroad. According to the head of the state control Committee of Belarus Ivan Tertile accounts of Belgazprombank illegally withdrawn $430 million in ABLV is one of the largest banks of Latvia.
49.8% of shares of Belgazprombank belong to the Russian “Gazprom” and Gazprombank. Earlier, the head of the SCC Ivan Tertel said that the activities of Babariko is supposedly the leadership of “Gazprom”.
June 12, Alexander Lukashenko during his working trip to Vitebsk oblast commented on what is happening around BGB and Victor Babariko.
According to the President, “worked on the Bank” even in 2016, however, the information on the withdrawal of money abroad, foreigners were given only in December last year. He said that he had instructed the Chairman of the state control Committee to investigate, but there is no political context in the case against Babariko no.
“Before God I swear that I do now in the election campaign is not necessary. Because that will scream, afraid of anyone, — said Lukashenko. — I’m not afraid of anyone! And to me, this situation is disadvantageous, but the villains had to stop because we started to hide the ends in water. Did not work”.
“You do not think that there by Lukashenko working some kind of angle. No roll no. I didn’t have to,” assured the Belarusian leader.
On June 18 Babariko and his son, who headed the initiative group for nomination for election, was detained. Both remanded in custody, reported on Sunday, June 21, the staff of the policy. At the time of arrest of Babariko, he was the only candidate, besides Lukashenka, who has already been deposited in the Central election Commission of Belarus the required number of signatures (more than 100 thousand).
On the same day, in the evening of 18 June in the center of Minsk held a “Picket of solidarity” with the detained during the presidential election campaign. On 20 June protests in Belarus were resumed and were held not only in the capital and other major cities. In the context of a pandemic, residents lined up in the “chain of solidarity”. As reported TUT.by in Vitebsk such chain stretched by 300 m, and in Grodno, 1.5 km away, and a word, long queues lined up at the beginning of June, when citizens come to put signatures for independent presidential candidates.
The protests were accompanied by arrests. According to the Belarusian human rights centre “Viasna” in Minsk detained more than 40 people. In addition, there are detainees in Bobruisk, Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Grodno and Novopolotsk.
The detention of Babariko was not the only reason for the protests. From the end of may remains in jail opposition blogger Sergei tikhanovski, who planned to nominate his candidacy for the presidency, however, the CEC refused to register the initiative group because the blogger at the time was serving an administrative arrest and was not able to personally sign the necessary documents.
30 may, in respect of Tikhanovski and seven of his supporters was a criminal case for violence against employees of the internal Affairs bodies. The incident that gave rise to the institution of proceedings, occurred during the collection of signatures for spouse Tikhanovski, Svetlana, who announced his candidacy instead of him.
16 June “Spring” reported that in respect of the blogger initiated another criminal case — for obstructing the election.
As a result, the Svetlana Tikhanovski managed to score the required number of signatures for participation in elections. In addition to her race entered Valery Tsepkalo — another opposition candidate, who previously held the post of assistant of Alexander Lukashenko.
Also in the elections will participate in three candidate — co-chair of the public Association “Tell the truth” Andrey Dmitriev, ex-Deputy Anna Konopacka and Chairman of the Belarusian social-democratic “Hramada” Sergey Cerecer.
On 19 June the EU urged the Belarusian government for the immediate release of Victor Babariko and his son.
“the EU calls on the Belarusian authorities to release them immediately and ensure full respect for the rule of law, including fair and transparent investigation and right to counsel,” reads the statement of the European Union.
In addition, Brussels has demanded from Minsk to ensure the holding of fair and transparent presidential elections and release all detainees as a result of protests of citizens.
June 9, the official representative of the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell Peter Stano said that the EU considers the extended Tikhanovski and seven of his supporters accusations are unfounded.
“In light of the arbitrary nature of the detention and persecution of Mr. Tikhanovski, the EU continues to call for him to be released immediately and unconditionally and all charges against him and other activists to remove” — said Stano.
In the relations between Belarus and the European Union have only recently seen progress. Since 2004, in respect of the Republic was introduced European sanctions. Brussels is convinced that in Belarus human rights are not respected and the principles of democracy. Since the EU is closely monitoring the elections in the Republic.
In the 2016 parliamentary elections for the first time in 20 years out of 110 MPs in the house of representatives passed two of the opposition candidate.
From the European Union immediately followed by a positive reaction for the first time in 12 years, the Commonwealth has recognized the parliamentary elections in Belarus. Soon, the European Union lifted most of the sanctions against senior officials of Belarus, including Alexander Lukashenko.
13 may 2020, the European Parliament approved by a majority of votes the agreement on simplification of visa regime with Belarus — the negotiations on this issue lasted from 2014.
However, every step forward in bilateral relations was accompanied by warnings from Brussels that it will continue to monitor the situation in the country.
So, after the vote on the question of visa facilitation in the European Parliament said that any party will be able at any time to terminate the agreement on the facilitation of issuance of visas “for any reason”, including “for reasons of human rights and democracy.”
During these presidential elections, the EU, undoubtedly, will not stay on the sidelines, and hope that he will appreciate the holding of elections, are left. Minsk demonstrates the determination to respect and Babariko, and Tikhanovski. The violent suppression of the protests signaled the tough stance of the government regarding the protests. Meanwhile, the government’s actions are even more heated protests — the situation in the Republic is likely to heat up as elections approach.
Alexander Lukashenko recent years led floor��tick of mediation between the West and Russia. Reputation “last dictator” in Europe largely did not leave him space until 2014, when Minsk refused to recognize the Crimea as part of Russia.
Soon Lukashenko has managed to place itself in resolving the conflict in the Donbass. The Belarusian leader has tried on on itself the role of mediator and peacemaker, following the example of France and Germany. In the statements, concerning the situation in the Donbas, Lukashenko is diplomacy. In his statements he is careful and consistent — in favour of ending the war and not support any of the sides.
Even taking the symbolic place in such an important geopolitical objectives, the Belarusian leader made itself felt and earned a few reputation points in the eyes of the West.
In February of this year, U.S. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo visited Minsk — this was the first visit of the American Secretary of state to Belarus for 25 years. The result of the meeting Pompeo and Lukashenka has become, in particular, an important agreement that Washington would send to the Republic of its Ambassador. In 2008, the parties mutually withdrew ambassadors and to at least reduce the quantitative composition of diplomatic missions.
The tension in relations between Belarus and the United States caused by the same human rights and principles of democracy. In early June, the charge d’affaires of the United States Jennifer Moore said that in the summer in the Republic will arrive the Ambassador of the United States.
In parallel with achievements in the West, Lukashenko headed a controversial relations with Russia. Misunderstandings between the parties established during the process of creating the Union state. The Belarusian leader has repeatedly complained of unfair on the part of Moscow’s conditions for oil and gas.
About tangible progress in this direction, however. Meanwhile, during the work on the creation of road maps, the Belarusian leader alternated rather sharp statements about Russia with assurances that relations between Minsk and Moscow will always be the closest.
Anyway, in this election, the Belarusian leader to show external direction nothing. The current situation in the Republic will nullify all his achievements in relations with the West, while Russia has repeatedly expressed irritation sharp words Lukashenko.
In all likelihood, the Belarusian leader, realizing that she had lost the support and on both sides, his campaign builds around the independence of the Republic and external threats.
June 19, Alexander Lukashenko raised the issue of interference in the elections of Belarus. Prior to that, he also hinted that some of the candidates are external forces.
“You can see that today the focus of all political interests are concentrated in Belarus. Both from the West and from the East. Watching the situation for��last days, I see that intensified certain forces which begin to intensificate, rocking the situation in the country,” Lukashenka said several hours before the arrival of Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Minsk.
However, in the course of the meeting the Belarusian leader assured that the relations between Minsk and Moscow remain at a high level, and after negotiations, the parties signed an agreement on mutual recognition of visas, which was conducted for several years.
However, Lukashenko does not leave the rhetoric about foreign players, pose a threat to the sovereignty of Belarus.
“You understand that independence does not happen much. It either is or it is not. And I a year ago, speaking on July 3, warned that independence is very expensive. This is the most valuable that can be for a nation or state. So if we, the people, if we want to have their own state, their independence must be protected,” — said on the eve of Lukashenko in Brest.
Remarkably, the President admits critical statements against Russia and against the West. Thus, in the course of his speech, Lukashenko said that the problem with democracy is there in Europe and in the United States.
“Who would have thought that America was about to erupt, and the democratic media have been choked and was silent. They don’t show what’s going on. There in the cities came troops and imposed a curfew. It’s the same in Western Europe. This is not to say. And we they saw something,” said the Belarusian leader.
Anyway, now the independence of Belarus became the Central theme around which Lukashenko is building his election campaign. And in light of the creation of the Union state declarations of sovereignty of the Republic serves as the personal achievements of the Belarusian leader.
“the Only thing you will be asked: never (I won’t) don’t let your urge to be made and tilted. Gone are the days. We managed to gain a foothold and create their own state. The main task — to protect him,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
