Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management Pavel Latushka said that sanctions pressure is creating serious difficulties for the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and is gradually increasing its readiness for dialogue with the European Union.
He made the statement during the discussion panel “Human Rights, Political Prisoners and Accountability,” held as part of the sixth meeting of the EU Consultative Group with Belarusian democratic forces, the United Transitional Cabinet reported.
According to Latushka, the main factor contributing to the continuation of repression in Belarus is impunity. He stressed that the lack of consequences for crimes committed allows Lukashenka to continue his policy of pressure on society without obstacles.
“Today impunity is the main driver of Lukashenka’s crimes. The absence of consequences allows the dictator to continue repression without restraint,” Latushka said.
He noted that advancing justice against representatives of the regime is one of the key tasks of the National Anti-Crisis Management and the United Transitional Cabinet, which are working to hold the highest military and political leadership of Belarus accountable in several areas.
One of these concerns the deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus. The National Anti-Crisis Management has submitted two communications to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court containing collected evidence.
Work is also underway on the issue of the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Another area involves documenting crimes against humanity committed against citizens of Belarus during the period of repression. This issue is urgent and an absolute priority, Latushka said.
The deputy head of the Cabinet noted that since 2020 more than 600,000 Belarusians have been forced to leave the country. Most of them became direct victims of deportation, which may qualify as a crime against humanity.
“However, the Lukashenka regime is not limited to deportation. It is scaling up transnational repression, expanding pressure and intimidation against Belarusians living in the European Union. The mass deportation of disloyal citizens is part of a deliberate state policy that the dictator himself previously described as a ‘cleansing of society,’” Latushka said.
He also stressed the importance of the European Union’s decision to extend sanctions against the Belarusian regime. According to him, sanctions remain an important political signal, since the authorities in Belarus have not demonstrated readiness to change either their domestic or foreign policy.
Latushka noted that the cumulative effect of sanctions restrictions has already created serious problems for the regime’s economy. In his view, this pressure creates additional difficulties for the authorities and gradually makes them more inclined toward dialogue with the European Union.
During his speech, Latushka presented proposals to increase the effectiveness of European sanctions, including strengthening existing restrictions, harmonizing and expanding them, and increasing the number of blocking sanctions.
He also outlined a two-track strategy. On the one hand, Belarusian democratic forces support the efforts of the United States to use sanctions instruments and political pressure to secure the release of political prisoners and end repression in Belarus. On the other hand, they call on the European Union to use the so-called “golden sanctions action” to achieve real, rather than cosmetic, political changes within the country.
“If the Lukashenka regime wants to normalize relations with the European Union, it is extremely important that Brussels send a clear signal: first of all, the regime must begin dialogue with Belarusian society,” Latushka said.
