Tensions rise between Belarus and the EU: Lukashenko has suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership of the European bloc

Belarus announced on Monday it was suspending its participation in the European Union (EU) Eastern Partnership, a space for rapprochement between the bloc and the former Soviet republics, to protest against the sanctions imposed against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko after the interception of a commercial aircraft.

“We cannot fulfill our obligations under this agreement under the sanctions and restrictions imposed by the EU”, said the Belarusian Foreign Ministry in a statement in which it also announced that its ambassador in Brussels was called for “consultations”. He also added that he started “Apply the suspension procedure.”

Europeans have stepped up pressure measures against Belarus following the crackdown on a large protest movement triggered by its re-election in August 2020, considered fraudulent, by President Alexander Lukashenko.

The Belarusian ministry also “invited” the head of the European delegation in Belarus to return to Brussels to “make their leaders understand the unacceptable nature of pressures and sanctions”.

According to the Belarusian regime, the suspension of the Eastern Partnership, launched in 2009 with six countries, “This will negatively affect the interaction with the European Union in the field of the fight against illegal immigration and organized crime.”

To European officials who participated in the development of sanctions against Belarus they will be prohibited from entering their territory, according to the same source.

These Belarusian reprisals come after the new series of economic and individual sanctions adopted by the Europeans and which They came into effect last week.

European sanctions were adopted in response to the interception on 23 May by the Belarusian government of a commercial aircraft of Ryanair flying over Belarusian territory and the arrest of two passengers, opposition journalist Roman Protasevich and his Russian companion, Sofia Sapega.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said on Monday that Belarus’ decision to suspend its participation in the Eastern Partnership program was a “step backwards”. “Belarus took a further step backwards today by suspending its participation in the Eastern Partnership», Tweeted the President of the Council, which represents the countries of the European Union.

This measure, according to Michel, “This will increase tensions and have a clear negative impact on the Belarusian people by depriving them of the opportunities offered by our cooperation.”

From then on, the Belgian politician launched two messages: one directed against the Belarusian people and the other against the Lukashenko regime.

“To the Belarusian people: you can count on the EU. We are at your side in solidarity and with practical support ”, declared Michel, and it reminded him of his “right” to elect his “president through new free and fair elections”.

And “to the regime of President Lukashenko: putting the future of Belarus above all else”, concluded the President of the Council.

The Council of the European Union imposed economic sanctions on Belarus last Thursday in the face of escalating human rights violations and violent repression from civil society, the democratic opposition and the press.

Punishments They include restricting trade in petroleum products, potash and goods used in the manufacture of tobacco products. For his part, Lukashenko said last week that he was ready to introduce martial law in Belarus before European Union sanctions on the economy of the former Soviet republic.

“There shouldn’t be no (economic) collapse in any company. We will apply martial law if necessary “the president said during a trip to the Grodno region in light of the possible economic consequences of sectoral sanctions.

According to Lukashenko, Belarusian economy should not suffer from EU restrictions, so he urged to find new ways to diversify the economy: “You have to show those scoundrels across the border that its sanctions speak of its powerlessness. And we go “.

Belarus was part of the Eastern Partnership program with the EU, also composed of Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova, since its establishment in 2009.

The European Union has supported peaceful opposition protests against fraud in the August 2020 presidential elections and, since then, he demanded its rehearsal and the release of political prisoners.

(With information from AFP and EFE)

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