Lukashenko expresses a conciliatory attitude, but warns that he will respond firmly if Europe decides to maintain the path of confrontation
The EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to strengthen sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. Through a legal amendment, the punishment criteria were extended to all those directly and indirectly responsible for this “hybrid attack” strategy that is taking shape in the arrival of thousands of migrants to the borders with Poland and other European partners, pushed by Belarus.
The new reprisals will affect individuals, but also entities supposedly collaborating with this massive flow, for example, airlines or travel agencies. They will add to the punishments already underway for 166 leaders (including Lukashenko and his son Viktor, national security adviser) and regime officials, as well as 15 entities, for their responsibility or involvement in “the intimidation and violent repression of protesters “peacemakers, members of the opposition and journalists” after the 2020 presidential elections, branded as fraudulent.
The decision taken this Monday “reflects the determination of the EU to confront the instrumentalization of migrants for political purposes. We are rolling back this inhumane and illegal practice. At the same time, we continue to underline the unacceptable ongoing repression by the regime against its own population at home, and we will respond accordingly, ”said Josep Borrell.
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission stressed that the air routes to Minsk are now “under control” thanks to the agreements reached in negotiations led by his colleague Vice President Margaritis Schinás (who was in Baghdad) , with countries of origin and transit, in coordination with the air authorities and the airlines themselves. “We have to study how to solve the problem and we have to start by putting a stop to the air routes, although we have almost achieved that. During these days we have spoken with countries of origin and transit and I believe that the flow is under control, “said the head of European diplomacy.
Artificial crisis
At the end of the conclave of foreign ministers in Brussels, Josep Borrell did not hesitate to assure that “the crisis has been artificially created” to divert attention from the authoritarian drift and repression exercised by the regime. “Belarus is 100% responsible for this situation,” he stressed. Although he also carried responsibility on the Kremlin. “Lukashenko would not be doing what he does if he did not have strong support from Russia,” he said.
Minsk on Monday tried to show signs of detente. The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Anatoli Glaz, assured that the Government is adopting measures with the intention of reducing the flow of migrants to Poland. “We have tightened the rules for granting visas to citizens of certain countries, established additional immigration controls for entry into the country and strengthened the inspection of the activity of tourist companies, withdrawing licenses from dozens of them,” said Glaz. In his words, the Belarusian airline, Belavia, “has never been and will never be engaged in transporting undocumented immigrants from countries in the Middle East or Africa.”
At the same time, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makéi warned his European counterpart Josep Borrell by phone on Sunday that the adoption of more sanctions against his country will be “counterproductive” and will be useless. Earlier, the Belarusian authorities warned that they will respond harshly to the EU if it continues down the path of “confrontation”.
On Thursday Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he will cut gas transit to the European Union through the gas pipeline that supplies fuel from Yamal, in the Arctic, if Brussels expands sanctions against his country. However, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, pointed out the next day that Lukashenko “has not agreed with Putin” on such a measure. “Russia is and will continue to be a country that fulfills all its obligations to supply gas to European consumers,” he added.
This Monday, however, after the EU’s position on the sanctions was known, the Russian presidential spokesman, not very sure that they could stop the Belarusian dictator, expressed the hope that there would not be a cut in the supplies of gas. “The president – Putin – expressed his hope and even his confidence that this does not affect the transit of gas at all and the fulfillment of Russia’s obligations to European gas consumers,” he said. He also added that Moscow is intervening as a “mediator” between Brussels and Minsk to try to reach an agreement that ends the current tensions.
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