Watch: Tsikhanouskaya urges EU to be ‘ruled by values, not money’ in response to Belarus
As the European Union prepares to slap Belarus with a new round of sanctions in response to the current crisis on the bloc’s eastern borders, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has a suggestion: don’t follow money, follow your values.
“There are still a lot of companies in Europe that are cooperating with the regime. Do not be ruled in your politics by money, be ruled by values,” the exiled Belarusian opposition leader told Euronews in an interview recorded at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“If you stop the cooperation for a few months, but if you do it together, jointly, simultaneously, it will rob the regime of money. And that will be the quick end.”
The EU is Belarus’ second largest trading partner, just behind Russia, accounting for almost 20% of the country’s overall merchandise trade, according to the European Commission.
“When we talk about sanctions, [it should be] very strict economic sanctions on the regime, not just step by step, with a six-month gap between sanctions, when the regime gets used to [them]. They create new organizations to avoid sanctions. Quick and immediate decisions are sure to lead us to change. “
The fourth round of EU sanctions has been imposed end of June, bringing the total blacklist to 166 people, including members of Lukashenko’s family, and 15 entities. Now the bloc is preparing a fifth package to punish more individuals, economic sectors and companies, such as state airline Belavia, which many see as a catalyst for the recent border crisis.
Brussels accuses Belarus of attracting migrants from the Middle East and African countries with flights to Minsk. Once there, the authorities send asylum seekers to the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The program has resulted in thousands of people being stranded between the EU and Belarus, with nowhere to go and worrying about a growing humanitarian crisis.
Lukashenko denied inviting migrants, but he recently said the BBC that it is “entirely possible” that his troops helped them enter Poland.
“Lukashenko and his regime don’t need these people. He wanted to use them. He didn’t expect his blackmail to fail. So he too is cornered,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
“A humanitarian mission must be sent. And this is the time when I am sure the regime will accept it because it also wants to solve this problem. But it has no money for that.”
The Leader of the Opposition hailed phone call between Lukashenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which surprised many observers given that European leaders have refused any direct contact with the authorities in Minsk since the disputed presidential elections of 2020.
“We are aware of this phone call,” Tsikhanouskaya said. “It looks quite strange because, for over a year, we have kept this unified position, no communication with the illegitimate [government]. But she did, [she] did it only for humanitarian aid. It has helped wonderfully.
“I think people in Belarus are mostly afraid of being betrayed,” she added. “But still, I understand that this step was only taken to help people at the borders.”
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU, was also in contact with his counterpart, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, to discuss the repatriation and reassignment of asylum seekers in cooperation with the United Nations and the Cross -Red.
In Tsikhanouskaya’s view, the border crisis was deliberately provoked by Lukashenko to “distract from internal issues” and then “divide Europe” by exploiting the politically sensitive issue of migration.
She says the only way to resolve the current situation and avoid similar episodes in the future is to remove Lukashenko from power and dismantle her entire state apparatus.
“This crisis, and many others that could hypothetically arise, will not be resolved without the dismantling of the regime,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
“We need to look at the heart of the matter. We need to maintain consistency in the sanctions and the policy of helping the Belarusian people. Be more courageous, as Belarusians are. Don’t be afraid to make strong decisions because it is. is high time for them. “
Watch the interview in the video player above.