Belarus: Brussels and Washington refuse to recognize Lukashenko as president
The Belarusian president formally began his sixth term on Wednesday, September 23, after an inauguration ceremony that had not been announced beforehand.
Reuters
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4 min
Western countries point the finger at the falsified results of the presidential election of August 9.
For the EU, the taking of the oath organized on Wednesday 23 September in the utmost discretion and the new mandate which the president claims have no democratic legitimacy.
Attacks swept away by the person concerned.
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The European Union does not recognize the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko, the High Representative of the Twenty-Seven for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrel, said on September 24.
For the EU, the presidential election was "
neither free nor fair
".
"
This
'taking the oath'
directly contradicts the will of large sections of the Belarusian population, expressed in numerous peaceful and unprecedented protests
...
and it will only worsen the political crisis
" in the country, said underlined Mr Borrell, who added, without giving further details, that “in
view of the current situation, the EU is reviewing its relations with Belarus.
"
Same story across the Atlantic.
Washington said on Wednesday it did not consider Lukashenko to be the legitimately elected president of Belarus.
German diplomacy also tackles an oath without any democratic legitimacy.
“
This ceremony, prepared in secret and without witnesses
,” adds Berlin, “
is in itself a revealing fact of the drift of power.
"
Lithuania denounces a fraudulent nomination and Latvia is worried about this headlong rush which, according to Riga, only worsens the political crisis.
In Europe, the condemnations are unanimous.
Slovakia, the Netherlands, Denmark and the Czech Republic also expressed their disagreement.
"
What Alexander Loukachenko does is that he isolates himself from the outside world
," said Anatoly Lebedko, a long-time opponent, joined in Minsk by RFI.
C
'is a formula that has been well known in the Soviet Union.
The USSR was closed not because its citizens wanted it, but because it was more convenient for the ruling elite.
A closed country means more possibilities to obtain obedience from the population
.
"
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Read:
B
iélorussie: faced with a challenge that does not weaken Lukashenko sworn in secret
Stung to life by Western critics, Alexander Lukashenko quickly reacted: “
They are screaming that they do not recognize us.
You know, we never asked them to recognize us, to recognize our elections, to recognize our re-elected president
, ”
according to the Belta State agency, Alexandre Lukashenko, speaking of him, as often, at the first plural person.
European sanctions still under discussion
Brussels has prepared sanctions against around 40 people found responsible for the repression and also plans to sanction Alexander Lukashenko, AFP learned from diplomatic sources.
But
the unanimity of the member states
is required, and Cyprus makes its agreement conditional on the adoption of measures to force Turkey to cease its gas drilling in the waters of its economic zone.
Two states, Sweden and Finland, refuse to sanction Lukashenko to allow mediation by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which will be chaired by Sweden, according to the same sources.
The issue will be discussed at the summit of European leaders on October 1 and 2 in Brussels.
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Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko
European Union
On the same subject
Belarus: EU sanctions project deadlocked
Belarus: faced with a challenge that does not weaken, Lukashenko takes the oath on the sly