The EU does not recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president for Belarus and praises the opposition for their commitment, there are renewed protests.
Sanctions should follow.
The
EU Parmalent
does
not
recognize
Lukashenko
as president.
The EU wants to put its relations with Minsk to the test.
Punitive measures and
sanctions are to
follow - but so far Cyprus has blocked (update from September 18, 10:00 p.m.)
Update from September 19, 4:26 p.m.:
Although the violence against the demonstrating women in the Russian capital Minsk escalated last Saturday, thousands of women again took
to the streets
against
Lukashenko
.
Because the traditional red and white flags are often confiscated by security forces, they opened red and white umbrellas.
At their “March of Female Solidarity”, they chanted “
Long live Belarus!
"And"
Prisoner
Transporter
for Lukashenko
"- an allusion to the transporter with which
demonstrators were
taken away
last week
.
The situation is still calm.
Sanctions against 40 Belarusians: Cyprus blocks EU decision
Update from September 18, 10:00 p.m
.: Cyprus has again
blocked
an EU decision on
sanctions
against
Belarus
.
This means that no action can be taken against 40 people accused by the EU of playing a leading role in electoral fraud and violence against demonstrators.
Cyprus only wants to agree to sanctions if the EU simultaneously
decides on
punitive measures against Turkey
in the dispute over gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.
The EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday, and an EU summit will take place at the end of next week.
Lukashenko announces border closings - and warns of "war" with Eastern European NATO states
Update from September 18, 3:47 p.m.:
In addition to
Lithuania
,
NATO
has also
rejected
the allegations made by
Belarusian President
Lukashenko of arming
the region.
He had warned of a "
war
" with Eastern European
NATO countries
.
"NATO does not pose a threat to
Belarus
," said an alliance spokesman for the
AFP
news
agency
on Friday.
"The presence of
NATO
in the eastern part of the alliance is purely defensive, proportionate and geared towards preventing aggression and maintaining peace."
Update from September 18, 3:05 p.m
.: The
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
has announced that the
borders
with
Poland
and
Lithuania will
be closed.
He said that according to
SZ
on Thursday at an event.
"We are forced to withdraw troops from the streets, put the
army on alert
and
close
the
state borders
to the west, mainly those to
Lithuania
and
Poland,
" he is quoted as saying.
In addition, the border with Ukraine should be strengthened.
However,
Lukashenko
did not
mention Latvia
when he testified.
According to the
Belarusian
border guards
, the checkpoints at the borders continue to work within their capacities under reinforced border guards.
The head of the
Lithuanian border guard
, Rustamas Liubajevas, confirmed to the BNS agency that border traffic to Lithuania is continuing as normal, albeit a little more slowly.
Belarus: EU takes a clear stand against Lukashenko - sanctions should follow
Brussels - For weeks and months there have been
riots and demonstrations against the leadership of President Alexander
Lukashenko
in
Belarus
.
Now the
EU Parliament has taken a
clear position on the recent incidents in Belarus.
The body positions itself clearly on the side of the opposition.
The EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell makes it clear: Parliament does not recognize the head of state Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.
The reason for this is the election on August 9th, in which Lukashenko was declared the winner with around 80 percent of the vote.
According to the EU Parliament, the election was cheated.
Belarus in a state of emergency: The EU takes a clear stand against Lukashenko
As a result of the current
uprisings
in the country, the
EU is
finally reacting
.
The relationship with the leadership in Minsk is to be put to the test.
All contacts should be carefully checked and subsequently restricted or discontinued if necessary.
According to Borrell, punitive measures are currently being
prepared
against people from
Lukashenko's
environment.
It remains to be seen whether the EU will also introduce sanctions against the head of state personally.
Brutal crackdown by Belarusian authorities continues.
EU reaction on four pillars
📌adopt sanctions
📌call on authorities to end violence and unlawful detentions, and establish inclusive national dialogue
📌strengthen engagement with civil society
📌review EU- # Belarus relations pic.twitter.com/zaZ1DvYfls
- Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) September 15, 2020
On the other hand, they want to show solidarity with civil society by strengthening ties, says Borrell.
The opposition
leadership
around Svetlana
Tichanowskaja
, Maria
Kolesnikowa *
and Veronika
Zepkalo
should be awarded the renowned Sakharov Prize, as suggested by several MPs.
The award honors people or organizations who are committed to upholding human rights and freedom of expression.
Since the election, two of the opposition leaders have fled into exile in Lithuania and Ukraine.
Kolesnikova is on remand in Minsk and faces several years in prison.
Belarus in a state of emergency: Lukashenko cracks down on the opposition and demonstrators
+
Alexander Lukashenko is not seen by the EU Parliament as a legitimate head of state
© Maxim Guchek / dpa / Pool BelTA / AP
Since the August 8 election there have been
massive protests against President
Lukashenko
across
Belarus
.
The president has been in office for 26 years and is now entering his sixth term.
The
police
used violence
against the demonstrators in the country
.
There have already been several dead and hundreds injured and arrested.
Thousands of workers stopped working to side with the opposition.
Much of the opposition council was either arrested, abducted or had to leave the country.
There is currently no foreseeable end to the uprisings.
(tko) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital network
List of rubric lists: © - / AP / dpa