Lukashenko advances against opposition as EU condemns attacks on freedoms in Belarus

Tensions between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and the European Union (EU) continue to mount. Friday, Lukashenko announced the dismantling of linked “terrorist sleep cells”, according to him, with Western countries.

“The objective of these cells ”, which would be linked to Germany, Ukraine, the United States, Poland and Lithuania, were to“ overthrow the regime violently ”Lukashenko assured.

Moreover, he said that “A huge number of weapons were circulating in Belarus from Ukraine” and announced that he had ordered border guards to “close the border permanently” with the neighboring country.

Lukashenko, in power for almost 27 years in Belarus has repeatedly accused the West of wanting to “destabilize” its country to be able to overthrow the government.

At the same time, the European Union announced on Friday a Economic and investment plan of 2.3 billion euros for Eastern Europe including Belarus, despite the fact that Minsk announced on Monday that it was suspending its participation in the Eastern Partnership of the European Union and summoned its ambassador to Brussels, in retaliation for European sanctions ordered due to political repression.

“The initiatives include Belarus, but with the red lines given by the EU’s position on the situation in the country “Peter Stano, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs, explained, while specifying that the bloc had suspended all cooperation that could benefit the Lukashenko regime.

“The EU is clear in its response to the crackdown and attacks on freedoms and rights in Belarus, we have introduced sanctions and restrictionss but we were clear in saying that they should not have an impact on relations with civil society, ”added Stano.

In this context, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised Belarus that he would continue to help the country overcome the political crisis and the sanctions imposed by the EU..

“We will continue to offer comprehensive assistance to the brotherly Belarusian people in the current complex internal political situation in Belarus ”, he declared during a telematic plenary session of the Forum of Russian and Belarusian regions, devoted to scientific and technical cooperation.

Putin confirmed to Lukashenko that Belarus is a victim of “relentless political pressure and sanctions, as well as persistent efforts to destabilize the situation from abroad” since anti-government protests erupted in August 2020 over the fraudulent presidential elections.

“We consider that the the ban on supplying EU countries with a number of Belarusian products undermines the interests of businesses and ordinary citizens. Those taking these steps should have thought about it. ” The Russian leader stressed that the sanctions affect not only Belarusians but also Europeans.

Tensions between Belarus and Europeans have been heightened by the strong crackdown on a post-election protest movement in 2020 and the hijacking of a RyanAir commercial aircraft, last May, by the Belarusian authorities to arrest a critical journalist who was on board.

With information from AFP, EuropaPress and EFE

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