Aggressive Minority And Foreign Interference. Kachanova Responds To Council Of Europe
Belarusfeed
23 October 2020, 14:16
Chairperson of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova has responded to a statement of the Council of Europe on the situation in Belarus. She mentioned foreign interference, majority support for the authorities and an “aggressive minority”.
Natalya Kochanova has issued a statement in response to a statement made by the leaders of the Council of Europe on 13 October. According to the official, the West receives one-sided information on the situation in Belarus from people outside the country, who “do not represent the majority of citizens who supported the country’s course during the presidential election”.
Kochanova said that the official Minsk has repeatedly suggested the heads of parliaments of the EU member states to engage in a constructive dialogue and expressed its readiness to provide “irrefutable facts” revealing the causes of the current Belarusian crisis, including “interference from abroad.”
“However, we were not heard, despite the fact that the leaders of the Council of Europe call in their statement to respect freedom of expression as one of the fundamental European values,” said the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic. Natalya Kochanova also stated that the protests taking place in Belarus are illegal.
“The Council of Europe leaders should be aware that ‘peaceful’ actions are taking place outside the legal framework and cause resentment among many citizens of Belarus who ask the Belarusian authorities to protect them from the aggressive minority and restore a calm, safe life in our country,” she said.
According to Kocahnova, Belarus is ready to discuss the situation in the country with foreign partners, subject to mutual respect, objectivity, consideration of the parties’ interests and non-interference with internal affairs.
Recall that the joint statement of the leaders of the Council of Europe, released on 13 October, condemned numerous violations of human rights in Belarus, violence against protesters and cruel treatment of detainees. The document said that the Belarusian authorities need to engage in a dialogue with the opposition and representatives of civil society “in order to carry out the constitutional reform so long awaited by all residents of the country.”
The EU did not recognise the official results of the presidential election on 9 August. In early October it imposed sanctions against 40 Belarusian officials for electoral fraud and violence against Belarusian citizens. Later, the EU announced the preparation of a second sanctions package, which would include personal restrictions, including against Alexander Lukashenko, and also promised to allocate funds to support victims of security forces brutality.
23 October 2020, 14:16
Natalya Kochanova has issued a statement in response to a statement made by the leaders of the Council of Europe on 13 October. According to the official, the West receives one-sided information on the situation in Belarus from people outside the country, who “do not represent the majority of citizens who supported the country’s course during the presidential election”.
Kochanova said that the official Minsk has repeatedly suggested the heads of parliaments of the EU member states to engage in a constructive dialogue and expressed its readiness to provide “irrefutable facts” revealing the causes of the current Belarusian crisis, including “interference from abroad.”
“However, we were not heard, despite the fact that the leaders of the Council of Europe call in their statement to respect freedom of expression as one of the fundamental European values,” said the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic. Natalya Kochanova also stated that the protests taking place in Belarus are illegal.
“The Council of Europe leaders should be aware that ‘peaceful’ actions are taking place outside the legal framework and cause resentment among many citizens of Belarus who ask the Belarusian authorities to protect them from the aggressive minority and restore a calm, safe life in our country,” she said.
According to Kocahnova, Belarus is ready to discuss the situation in the country with foreign partners, subject to mutual respect, objectivity, consideration of the parties’ interests and non-interference with internal affairs.
Recall that the joint statement of the leaders of the Council of Europe, released on 13 October, condemned numerous violations of human rights in Belarus, violence against protesters and cruel treatment of detainees. The document said that the Belarusian authorities need to engage in a dialogue with the opposition and representatives of civil society “in order to carry out the constitutional reform so long awaited by all residents of the country.”
The EU did not recognise the official results of the presidential election on 9 August. In early October it imposed sanctions against 40 Belarusian officials for electoral fraud and violence against Belarusian citizens. Later, the EU announced the preparation of a second sanctions package, which would include personal restrictions, including against Alexander Lukashenko, and also promised to allocate funds to support victims of security forces brutality.
