Lukashenka can leave country, opposition can’t

• 13.10.2008, 15:44

Leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich commented to the Charter’97 press center on a decision of the EU Council to lift visa bans on Lukashenka and his officials. It should be reminded that the authorities banned the youth leader to leave Belarus.

“I was surprised by the decision of the EU council. I think it is a hasty decision, because the course in Belarus hasn’t changed, the “elections” have been falsified, there are political prisoners – participants of the Trial of 14, repressions against the opposition go on. Why did the EU officials forget that participants of “Boycott” campaign got administrative arrests during the “electoral campaign”?

Lukashenka can travel to the EU, while a number of leaders and activists of the democratic movement do not have the right to leave Belarus. I, leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, Young Front activists Ivan Shyla, Nasta Palazhanka and others are forbidden to leave Belarus. The main thing, I think, is that this decision is untimely, because Lukashenka has demonstrated no steps towards liberalisation, but now European politicians will seat at one table, buy Belarusian enterprises from a man who praises Hitler and Stalin. I don’t think they will have a full dialog with Lukashenka. It’s time to prove the policy of the European Union is wrong,” Zmitser Dashkevich said.