Natallia Radzina: Lukashists Spill Out

• 11.09.2024, 19:17

Sanctions bring down the regime's economy.

Natallia Radzina, the Editor-in-Chief of the Charter97.org website, became a guest of the Lithuanian Delfi YouTube channel.

On the weekend, a Russian "Shahed" flew from Belarus to Latvia. The Editor-in-Chief of Charter97.org offers two answers to the military threat from the Belarusian territory:

— A reaction is needed, because here we are talking about Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. There should be a response, possibly of a military nature. At a minimum, the Belarusian authorities should be warned that if missiles and drones continue to fly into the territory of countries neighboring Belarus, a harsh reaction will follow.

Secondly, it is necessary to strengthen sanctions. We see that the regime is actively lobbying for the lifting of restrictions imposed on potash fertilizers. There is no way to make concessions for the Lukashenka regime. It's necessary to only strengthen sanctions. I propose to introduce a ban on the transit of goods from the territory of Belarus to bring the Belarusian regime to senses. This measure will help release Belarusian prisoners and reduce the level of military threats emanating from Belarus.

Natallia Radzina noted that sanctions against the Belarusian regime were imposed for landing a Ryanair plane and complicity in the war against Ukraine. The West did not punish Lukashenka for political prisoners in any way:

— In order for the regime to release not 30 people, but all political prisoners, sanctions should be tied to their release. It makes sense. I know that this idea is supported by many representatives of the Belarusian opposition.

The regime is very afraid of sanctions on transit, because Belarus is a transit country. Moreover, not only Belarusian goods will not be able to go to Europe, but goods from Russia and China, which is extremely important. The Chinese and Russian authorities can advise Lukashenka to release political prisoners, because they need this corridor to Europe.

Why doesn't the EU introduce new sanctions against the Belarusian regime? The Editor-in-Chief of Charter97.org gave the reason:

— I would associate this with the fact that the president in the European Union is Hungary. I think this pause will last until the end of the year. But at the beginning of 2025, it will be possible to resume the conversation about the introduction of new sanctions against the regime. Moreover, Lukashenka has scheduled his re-election for February. It is clear that it cannot be called elections, there will be total falsifications, farce and profanation. This is the best time for harsh conditions for Lukashenka to release political prisoners.

Let me give you an example of Poland. It began thorough checks of cargo at the border with Belarus at the railway checkpoint in Malashevichy. The Chinese cargoes began to arrive late to Europe. Cargoes were also checked at other points — at the car border crossing in Kazlovichy. Again, this thorough inspection will help to identify those goods that are being smuggled into the European Union. It is no secret that many Belarusian cargoes go to Europe using forged documents. The same potassium, cement, wood, nitrogen fertilizers — they go to the EU according to documents that they are allegedly from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, even according to Chinese documents. The potassium goes under the guise of Russian. It comes to the enterprise Bryansk Agrokhim, it is granulated there, then it goes through the territory of Belarus to the European Union under the guise of a Russian one. Slowing down transit and checking cargo will be a measure.

Natallia Radzina spoke about a significant feature when the Lukashists themselves talked about the powerful impact of sanctions on the Belarusian economy:

— A person's life is priceless. For this reason, we must seek the release of all political prisoners. Including opposition leaders. I do not agree that we will achieve the release of some prisoners of conscience, and most of them, including those who are unknown, will remain in prison. Or figures like Mikalai Statkevich. This is the real leader of the Belarusian opposition, who has been in opposition to the Lukashenka regime for 30 years, about 13 years he spent in prison during this time. This is the dictator's personal enemy. I think that he really does not want to release him, or he wants to release him last. Should we seek the release of Mikalai Statkevich? Of course we should.

Recently, the pro-government figure Yury Vaskresenski in an interview with the state media spilled out and told the truth. The regime today is really suffering because of the sanctions imposed. After all, he said that "if we do not release Belarusian political prisoners, soon the authorities will have no funds to pay pensions". I noticed this statement. This means that sanctions are hitting the regime. Do not listen to those who say that "numerous bypassing of sanctions", "do not work", "let's cancel them". No. First, sanctions imposed for other crimes cannot be lifted. How can the sanctions on potassium be lifted if Lukashenka did not withdraw from the war. To release political prisoners, it is necessary to introduce new sanctions. I mean a transit ban speaking about new sanctions. Of course, it is necessary to talk about the release of political prisoners. But these should be quite clear conditions — the release of all prisoners of conscience and the cessation of terror within the country. What do we see today? 30 people are released, 150 are imprisoned. After all, many people are condemned again. The man participated in two marches — he served two years. Then he was seen in a photo at another protest — he was again put in prison.

The Belarusian journalist believes that the fate of the Lukashenka regime is predetermined:

— It doesn't matter if he reassigns or not. In any case, Lukashenka does not have these five years that he is measuring himself. I am convinced that the regime will collapse sooner. By starting a war against Ukraine, Lukashenka and Putin took a suicidal step. They launched a program of self-destruction. We see that two dictators are suffering from sanctions, no matter what they say. Putin and Lukashenka are trying to fight the whole world, and they will lose.

Who is behind the attacks on the centers of the Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania? Natallia Radzina is sure that this is the work of Lukashenka's special services, because Belarusians and Lithuanians have nothing to share, and the future of Belarus is in the EU and NATO:

— I really hope that these are not Lithuanian citizens. Belarusians who were forced to flee to Lithuania do not pose any threat. Neither the national security, nor the residents of Lithuania. I would urge the Lithuanians to understand us, because people fled from prison, were forced to leave everything, taking only their children. They are very grateful to you for finding shelter here and the opportunity to live and work.

What is happening is very similar to provocations by the Belarusian special services. They want to create a tense atmosphere — discord on ethnic grounds, so that relations between Belarusians and Lithuanians become more complicated. The goal is just that. I became emigrant in 2011 and do not feel hostile attitude either in Poland or in Lithuania. I think that sensible Belarusians understand that these are isolated cases, and behind them are provocateurs by the KGB, and not real Lithuanians.

At the end of the interview, Natallia Radzina addressed the Lithuanians:

— We are neighbors, we have a common historical past, we have nothing to share. In the future, Belarus will become a free and democratic country, and you will not have to accept us as refugees. We will be able to cooperate and be friends. And together with you we will be in the EU and NATO. I believe that Belarus should follow this path.