Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko first mentioned a track and field athlete who had exiled to neighboring Poland after participating in the Tokyo Olympics, saying, "I will not do that unless it is manipulated," and claimed that it was a conspiracy by the rebels.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held a press conference in the capital Minsk, nine days after the presidential election, which triggered a large-scale protest by citizens seeking his resignation.



In a meeting that lasted more than eight hours, President Lukashenko first mentioned Chimanouskaya, a track and field girl who had fled to neighboring Poland for fear of returning to Japan after participating in the Tokyo Olympics. I will not do it, "he insisted that it was a conspiracy by the anti-government side.



On the other hand, President Lukashenko said he intends to resign, but did not mention the specific time, and revealed the idea of ​​transferring part of the presidential authority to an organization called the "national conference" led by the administration. Did.



President Lukashenko remains bullish while strengthening relations with Russia, which is the backing, amid growing criticism and pressure from the West against the crackdown on citizens, and is ready to continue to stick to power. I'm showing you.

Independent media and civic groups are the target of the crackdown on the administration

Belarus's Lukashenko administration is turning the crackdown on independent media and civic groups now that the country's large-scale protests, as it did a year ago, are rarely carried out.



According to Belarusian human rights groups, at least 25 journalists were held in prisons and more as of last month, and more than 50 nonprofits were forced to suspend operations.



Of these, NGO "Imena," which supports children who lost their parents and victims of DV = domestic violence, was suddenly searched by police last month and its office was closed.



A female member of "Imena" responded to an interview with NHK to convey the actual situation of Belarus to Japan.



In this, this member said, "People who act independently like us are difficult for the administration to manage, and its existence itself may be inconvenient," and the Lukashenko administration is active even if it has nothing to do with political activities. He pointed out that active citizen groups are becoming more vigilant that they may turn into anti-government groups.



He also complained about the current situation in the capital Minsk, saying, "Anyone who has the potential to express his or her own opinion will be excluded. I am surrounded by the tension of not knowing when I will be detained." He also revealed that many people are evacuating abroad because they cannot withstand oppression and persecution.



Under these circumstances, he emphasized his desire to remain in the country as much as possible, arguing that the current situation is also responsible for the people who have effectively tolerated the dictatorship.

Anti-government "continue fighting"

Anti-governmentist Alexander Lukashenko, who continues to protest for the resignation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, will attend a press conference in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, on the 9th, one year after the presidential election. rice field.



In it, Mr. Tschihanovskaya reiterated his confrontational stance, saying, "It is impossible to talk to an illegal president who maintains power only through violence, torture and oppression."



"Thousands were imprisoned for political reasons and 36,000 were detained in a year, and we will continue to fight until all these numbers are a thing of the past," Chihanovskaya said on Twitter. I renewed my determination to continue protesting activities in the future.

Expert "President Europe and the United States think that the administration will be overthrown"

Belarusian political commentator Artyom Schreibmann told NHK about the protests of citizens since August last year: "Many participants chose the tactic of peaceful protests, and the revolutionary attempt was made. It failed. The security forces were loyal to the administration, "he said, noting that the administration, supported by a solid foundation of the military and security agencies, was unwavering.



Nonetheless, President Lukashenko's increased crackdown on independent media and civic groups, Schreimann said, "because he recognizes it as one of the plans to revolutionize NGOs and the media and is a conspiracy. President Lukashenko explained that he thinks that the West is trying to overthrow the government by using NGOs and others.



On the other hand, Mr. Shliveman said that the key to breaking the situation lies in the influence of Russia, which is the backing of Lukashenko's administration, but "Putin does not have Russian politicians or political parties in Belarus. "Moscow is afraid to intervene and destabilize Belarus by itself," said Putin, who wants to avoid the political turmoil in Belarus spilling over into Russia and emphasizes maintaining the status quo. I analyzed that.



Mr. Lukashenko himself has been evacuated to neighboring Ukraine because there is a risk of detention such as being monitored by the authorities, but "I feel that my homeland has been robbed. However, I think that this is a temporary process. For the time being, Ukraine wants to disseminate information that conveys the reality of the Lukashenko administration's crackdown, while waiting for an opportunity to improve the situation.

U.S. Biden Administration Announces Additional Sanctions for Lukashenko Administration

The U.S. Biden administration has continued to suppress human rights against the people on the 9th, as the Lukashenko administration continues to suppress human rights against the people as it has been one year since the presidential election that started a large-scale protest by citizens in Belarus. Announced that it will impose additional sanctions on the United States.



According to it, assets in the United States will be frozen for representatives of state-owned fertilizer companies, which are the main industry of Belarus.



The Belarus Olympic Committee is also subject to sanctions, saying that it does not protect its athletes from political discrimination and crackdowns, and that it also plays a role in the money laundering of the Lukashenko administration.



"The Lukashenko administration is trying to cling to power at all costs, including detaining thousands of peacefully protesting citizens and imprisoning more than 500 activists," Biden said in a statement. And those who value free and fair elections and freedom of expression must stand up against these crackdowns. "



On the same day, the British government restricted the trade in petroleum products against the Lukashenko administration, and the Canadian government announced similar new sanctions.



Meanwhile, the EU-European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said in a statement released on the 8th that he is ready to consider further measures in addition to the sanctions already imposed depending on the administration's response. Will continue to support the people of Belarus. We will support democratic and stable Belarus. "