Belarus: Europe seeks appeasement from Putin, Lukashenko toughens his tone

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4 min

This Tuesday, August 18 marks the tenth day of protest in Belarus, where the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko as president still agitates part of the population. Several European leaders have joined Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who has the ear of his Belarusian counterpart. The latter, however, does not give up in the face of the challenge.

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The tense situation in Belarus prompted the heads of state and government of the European Union to take up the matter. They will meet for an extraordinary European Council , by videoconference, Wednesday August 19 from 12 noon. Ahead of this meeting, a few European leaders tried to ease these tensions.

► To (re) listen: Belarus: President Lukashenko, reelected for the sixth time, is increasingly contested

Michel, Merkel and Macron call Poutine

Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have all called Vladimir Putin, the closest partner of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Three separate appeals but the same message to the Russian Head of State: that the violence against Belarusian civil society cease and that the need for appeasement and dialogue be advocated.

Each time, Vladimir Poutine issued a warning against "  any attempt at foreign interference  " and "  the pressure exerted against the authorities of the country  ". The 27 of the EU have not officially called for new elections in Belarus, but they have already acted on the principle of sanctions.

A list of people accused of organizing and carrying out repression will be drawn up and submitted for approval to member states. Four people in Belarus are already banned from entering the EU, and their assets have been frozen. Belarus is still under an embargo on the sale of arms and equipment that can be used for repression.

Lukashenko's threat to Tikhanovskaya and Alexievich

While images of protests in small towns in Belarus are still circulating on August 18 and a handful of ambassadors have tendered their resignations, Alexander Lukashenko remains straight in his boots. After a very rowdy visit to a factory Monday, August 17, the strongman of the country decided on a counter-offensive with the workers of these state factories, which have so far been his electoral base.

Even weakened, Alexander Lukashenko shows that he will not let go of a particle of power under pressure. To the workers who challenged him vehemently on Monday, the Belarusian president retorted: “  Whoever leaves the factory will not come back.  This Tuesday, many observers on the spot to say it: the number of strikers has fallen sharply in this sector, in the face of threats of cuts in wages or of layoffs and pressure from the security services.

Alexander Loukachenko, in power for 26 years, has also just published a list of law enforcement officials awarded medals for "  irreproachable service  ". Former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa is trying to set up a Civil Society Coordination Committee for the transition. Svetlana Alexievitch, Nobel Prize for Literature in 2015, joined her. The first meeting was held on Tuesday, again with clear threats from the Head of State: “  This is an attempt to take power. I want to warn those who have joined this committee that we will take appropriate action. We have enough to cool some hotheads.  "

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• Belarus
• Alexander Lukashenko
• Vladimir Poutine
• European Union
• Angela Merkel
• Emmanuel Macron

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