Ales Yauseyanka On Blocking Charter-97: It's Time To Move On To Actions

Free Belarus is one of the most important factors of the peace in Europe.

Ales Yauseyanka, a spokesman for the Belarusian National Congress in Homel, stated that commenting on the blocking of Charter97.org:

– The authorities do not want to listen to any alternative opinion and criticism in their address. They have not listened to it, and now they have taken measures to liquidate the independent media. People are deprived of the right to get information, they are deprived of the right to analyze the situation. In order for people to connect the dots and to assess facts objectively, there must be various sources of information. We are deprived of such an opportunity. It’s a one-sided game.

– Why do you think the decision to block the Charter97.org website has been made at this particular time?

– The authorities are afraid of the celebration of the BPR’s 100th anniversary. The blocking might be connected with this event. Also, the economic situation in the country is deteriorating and the spring rallies may become a catalyst for popular protests (as it was last year). The common Belarusian lives worse and worse. People are dropping out of the official trade unions. Everyone, as far as one can, is trying to express his indignation with the current situation.

– What should be the reaction of the international community to the situation with freedom of speech in Belarus?

– The West should ask itself the question: "Who are we having a conversation with?" Lukashenka has closed the OSCE office in Minsk, kicked away the US embassy. What kind of dialogue can they talk about? It's time to express solidarity with those representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces that have remained. After all, a lot of organizations have already been destroyed.

The European Union should support independent journalists and human rights activists. The UN must demand from Belarus to fulfill the obligations it has undertaken by signing the main conventions and agreements.

They should not entertain illusions and should move from formal statements to direct actions – economic sanctions.

Lukashenka makes a market of political prisoners, makes a market of the media, and exchanges the softening of repressions for monetary preferences. I think that in the situation with the blocking of Charter97.org, there may be a similar account. Therefore, we must demand more stringent sanctions. Undoubtedly, the European Union has its own problems, but one should think about the peace in the region, which is impossible without free Belarus.