Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has urged the European Union not to replicate the US approach of easing sanctions on Belarus in exchange for the release of political prisoners. In an interview with Politico, she said sanctions remain “very important and effective instruments” capable of changing the regime’s behaviour.
According to her, the more “transactional” American approach has its advantages, but this should not prompt the EU to follow the same path.
“American sanctions are for freeing people, European sanctions are for freeing the country,” she stressed.
Tsikhanouskaya also said that both Ukraine and Belarus are suffering from Russia’s imperialist pressure. In her view, Kyiv and Minsk should “work together” in the future, although she acknowledged that Ukrainians will not forgive Belarus for facilitating the Russian invasion. At the same time, she expressed hope that Ukraine would help Belarus become free.
Speaking about sanctions policy, the democratic leader noted that Europe has now become the “bad cop” for Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Whereas previously, she said, Europe had been seen as the “good cop” and the United States as the “bad cop”, the roles have now reversed: the EU is increasing pressure on Minsk, while Washington has moved to ease restrictions.
