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One of the leading representatives of the opposition movement in Belarus has sharply criticized the EU sanctions against his country.

“The EU sanctions are not enough, in truth they have no effect at all.

It's cosmetic sanctions.

We have had massive repression in my country for six months, ”said Pawel Latuschka to WELT AM SONNTAG.

Like Svetlana Tichanowskaja, Latuschka belongs to the presidium of the so-called coordination council of the protest movement in Belarus.

Latuschka fled to Poland in September after Lukashenko threatened him personally.

The 48-year-old was previously Minister of Culture and then Ambassador of his country in Paris, Warsaw and Madrid.

Most recently he headed the largest theater in Belarus, the National Academy Theater in Minsk.

Only last Thursday, the EU extended its sanctions due to the conflict over the presidential election in Belarus by one year until the end of February 2022.

In addition to Lukashenko, 87 persons responsible for alleged electoral fraud and violence against demonstrators are currently affected.

Entry and property bans were imposed on them.

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Latuschka continued: “Nine people have been killed so far.

33,000 people were arrested.

At least 1,800 people were tortured in the prisons.

500 journalists were arrested.

The opposition leaders are either in prison or have had to flee.

(...) The universities and clinics are systematically cleaned.

And there are terrible cases of torture. ”For example, prisoners were sprayed with gas.

"Stop all economic relations"

The opposition leader called on the EU to extend its punitive measures to hundreds of judges, prosecutors and investigators loyal to the regime and, above all, to adopt economic sanctions against his country: “The EU countries should end all economic relations with Belarus.

They should no longer do business with Belarusian companies, they should cut all ties with Belarusbank and no longer help to place bonds so that Lukashenko can raise money on the international financial markets. "

The people in Belarus, said Latuschka, are open to economic sanctions: “We are ready to endure economic sanctions for six or twelve months if the situation improves afterwards.

What we have now is much worse for people than economic sanctions: the permanent violation of the rule of law. ”The aim of the economic sanctions is to“ force Lukashenko to start negotiations with us ”.

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Latuschka accused the EU of lacking the “political will” for more engagement.

“This spring will be the decisive battle”.

It won't be easy.

“We need Europe's support”.

This text is from WELT AM SONNTAG.

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Source: Welt am Sonntag