The European Union calls on the Belarusian authorities to cease repressions towards the residents of the nation and to begin a complete nationwide dialogue. On Friday night, October 9, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell known as Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei to substantiate the EU’s place on the scenario in this nation after the August 9 presidential elections, reported European exterior motion service October 10.
In a phone dialog, Borrell careworn that the European Union expects the discharge of all political prisoners and an finish to violence and repression towards residents. In addition, he known as on the authorities in Minsk to respect freedom of the media and the calls for of civil society, as properly as to begin a complete nationwide dialogue with the assist of the OSCE, its present chairman of Albania and the long run chairman of Sweden. Borrell introduced the EU’s assist for efforts in this route and known as on Minsk to simply accept the supply on a joint go to of representatives of the OSCE, Albania and Sweden to Belarus.
Solidarity with Poland and Lithuania and EU unity
In addition, the top of European diplomacy expressed full EU solidarity with Poland and Lithuania, which on the request of Minsk needed to considerably cut back the variety of diplomatic missions in Belarus. Borrell known as the demand of the Belarusian aspect “unfounded and regrettable,” and in addition careworn that the EU is united in its place on the scenario in Belarus, and Minsk’s makes an attempt to strike at particular person European international locations will not weaken the EU’s unity.
At the identical time, Borrell reaffirmed “the European Union’s sturdy assist for the independence and sovereignty of Belarus, the authentic calls for of the Belarusian individuals and respect for their rights and democratic selection as a basic aspect.”
Earlier, the Belarusian authorities demanded to scale back the variety of workers of diplomatic missions of Poland and Lithuania in Belarus. The diplomats were requested to carry the composition of their missions in Belarus to parity with the Belarusian overseas missions in their international locations by October 9. “For Lithuania, this (abbreviation. – Ed.) from 25 to 14 diplomats, for Poland – from 50 to 18 “, – famous the consultant of the Belarusian diplomatic division Anatoly Glaz. As a consequence, Poland recalled 30 diplomats from Minsk, Lithuania – 5.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections
Mass protests in Belarus have been occurring for precisely two months after the presidential elections on 9 August. According to media estimates, greater than 100 thousand individuals have taken to the streets greater than as soon as; they oppose the popularity of Alexander Lukashenko as the winner of the elections. According to the CEC of Belarus, Lukashenko, who has dominated the nation since 1994, received 80.1 % of the vote, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya – 10.1 %.
Opposition representatives shaped a Coordinating Council (CC) to switch energy within the nation, however ultimately all members of the CC Presidium were either arrested or ended up overseas. In October, the European Union imposed sanctions on 40 officers from Belarus for electoral fraud and reprisals towards protesters. Among them are the top of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus and his deputies, as properly as all the composition of the CEC.
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