Belarus: EU positions itself in support of protesters opposed to Lukashenko

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While the protest against the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko to the post of President of Belarus resumed on Sunday August 16, Emmanuel Macron called on the European Union to "mobilize alongside" the demonstrators. Before him, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, took the same position.

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If he claims to have the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko finds himself isolated on a large part of the rest of the European chessboard. The President of Belarus, in power for 26 years and re-elected on August 9 following a highly criticized ballot, is facing massive protest from part of his people . And these demonstrators, mobilized en masse Sunday August 16 in the streets of the capital Minsk, obtained support among European leaders.

"The European Union supports the Belarusian people"

On the evening of August 16, it was first Josep Borrell, vice-president of the European Commission and head of European diplomacy, who spoke on Twitter about the repression in Belarus against the demonstrators. “  Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians were out today to demonstrate peacefully, to demand the release of political prisoners, to demand prosecution of those responsible for police violence, and to demand real elections. The European Union supports the Belarusian people  , ”he wrote.

Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians were out today demonstrating peacefully, demanding release of political prisoners, prosecution of those responsible for police brutality, and real elections.

The EU stands by the Belarusian people.

Shortly afterwards, it was French President Emmanuel Macron who, by the same means of communication, called for the European Union to continue "  to mobilize alongside the hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who are demonstrating peacefully for the respect of their rights, their freedom and their sovereignty  ”.

The European Union must continue to mobilize alongside the hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who demonstrate peacefully for the respect of their rights, their freedom and their sovereignty.

On Friday August 14, the European Union had already agreed to sanctions against Belarusian officials linked to violent repression or possible electoral fraud. Earlier in the day of August 16, Alexander Lukashenko spoke to demonstrators who support him . The president defended the independence of his country. “  We don't need foreign governments! We need our government, our leaders,  ”he insisted, while refuting the hypothesis of new elections. "  A falsified score cannot be more than 80%,  " he said.

(With AFP)

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• Belarus
• European Union
• Emmanuel Macron
• Alexander Lukashenko

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