Serbia Surprisingly Joins EU In Condemnation Of Belarus Vote
In a surprise move, Serbia has joined the European Union in its rejection of the election results in Belarus and criticism of a crackdown against those protesting against the country’s longtime autocratic leader.
In a surprise move, Serbia has joined the European Union in its rejection of the election results in Belarus and criticism of a crackdown against those protesting against the country’s longtime autocratic leader.
Serbia’s prime minister, Ana Brnabic, said Thursday that Belgrade signed up with the EU resolution on Belarus in order to align the Balkan country’s policies with those of the bloc it formally wants to join.
Belgrade has had close relations with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who last visited the Balkan country in December. He was the only world leader who visited Serbia during the 1999 NATO bombing of the country over its crackdown against ethnic Albanian separatists, which was seen as his support of Serbia’s former strongman, Slobodan Milosevic.
“I hope Lukashenko won’t hold it against us,” Brnabic said while admitting for the first time that Serbia accepted the EU stance on Belarus' elections. “We should not forget the friendship Lukashenko has shown to our people during the difficult times.”
Last month, European Union leaders said they stand beside the people protesting for democratic rights in Belarus , rejecting election results that swept the country’s leader of 26 years back into power and warned they are preparing a long list of Belarusians who face sanctions over vote fraud and a brutal crackdown on protesters.
Serbia’s acceptance of the EU criticism of the Belarus leader was first revealed Wednesday in tweets by the EU and US ambassadors to Belgrade who hailed the move.
“I welcome Serbia for joining EU Declaration on Presidential Elections in Belarus,” EU Ambassador Sam Fabrizi wrote on Twitter.
The U.S. ambassador to Serbia, Anthony Godfrey, also praised Belgrade’s decision. “It is great to see that Serbia stands by its European environment,” he wrote on Twitter.
Serbian populist President Aleksandar Vucic has also faced criticism from home and abroad for curtailing media freedoms, holding elections that the opposition claims are not free and fair and cracking down on anti-government demonstrators.
Although formally seeking EU membership, Serbia has been strengthening political, economic and military ties with Russia and China. It has refused to join EU sanctions against Russia for its policies over Ukraine.
Belarus President Lukashenko Brings Teenage Son To Frontline As Protests Intensify
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes his 16-year-old son Nikolai to protest as people continue to demand his downfall over an alleged rigged election
Written ByVishal Tiwari
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes his 16-year-old son Nikolai to protest as people continue to demand his downfall over an alleged rigged election.
According to The Telegraph, the father-son duo appeared in military outfits carrying, what appeared to be AK-47s and posed for cameras as protesters demonstrated nearby. Lukashenko and his son Nikolai, who is presumed to succeed his father as President of Belarus, reportedly landed in Minsk from a helicopter near their residence and posed with the assault rifles for a photo-op.
Read: Belarus Leader Cites Alleged NATO Threat To Shore Up Rule
According to reports, Lukashenko after the show of strength told the press, "They (over 1,00,000 protesters) have run away like rats." Lukashenko's gimmick was to indicate that he will not go down without a fight, suggested reports.
Protestors are demanding Lukashenko's resignation, free and fair election, and an end of state-sponsored violence. People in large numbers have taken to streets to protest against the outcome of the recently concluded election, following which Lukashenko ordered a crackdown on demonstrators. One protestor reportedly died in the clashes between police and the protesters, while over 7,000 have been arrested so far.
Read: EU FMs On Belarus, Greece-Turkey Tension, Navalny
Lukashenko on August 10 secured a record sixth term as the country's president after the authorities announced the preliminary results in which the 65-year-old former Soviet Army member allegedly secured over 80 percent of the total votes polled. Opposition leaders, including the main challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, denounced the result, calling it a rigged election.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fled the country for Lithuania on August 11, fearing that she or her family could be harmed. The 37-year-old leader has been issuing video statements from Lithuania, demanding Belarusian authorities to accept their wrongdoings and to join hands with the opposition in order to evade punishment in the future.
International condemnation
The European Union and the United States have also expressed concerns over the recent developments in Belarus and have called on Lukashenko to respect the rights of the Belarusian people.
Foreign ministers of the European Union also held a meeting regarding this issue and also discussed possible sanctions against Lukashenko. Meanwhile, the last dictator of Europe has also managed to garner some international support as Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly extended support to the authoritarian leader.
(Image Credit: AP)
Read: Belarus President Lukashenko Says He Is Ready To Share Power As Protests Intensify
Belarus President Lukashenko Brings Teenage Son To Frontline As Protests Intensify
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes his 16-year-old son Nikolai to protest as people continue to demand his downfall over an alleged rigged election
Written ByVishal Tiwari
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes his 16-year-old son Nikolai to protest as people continue to demand his downfall over an alleged rigged election.
According to The Telegraph, the father-son duo appeared in military outfits carrying, what appeared to be AK-47s and posed for cameras as protesters demonstrated nearby. Lukashenko and his son Nikolai, who is presumed to succeed his father as President of Belarus, reportedly landed in Minsk from a helicopter near their residence and posed with the assault rifles for a photo-op.
Read: Belarus Leader Cites Alleged NATO Threat To Shore Up Rule
According to reports, Lukashenko after the show of strength told the press, "They (over 1,00,000 protesters) have run away like rats." Lukashenko's gimmick was to indicate that he will not go down without a fight, suggested reports.
Protestors are demanding Lukashenko's resignation, free and fair election, and an end of state-sponsored violence. People in large numbers have taken to streets to protest against the outcome of the recently concluded election, following which Lukashenko ordered a crackdown on demonstrators. One protestor reportedly died in the clashes between police and the protesters, while over 7,000 have been arrested so far.
Read: EU FMs On Belarus, Greece-Turkey Tension, Navalny
Lukashenko on August 10 secured a record sixth term as the country's president after the authorities announced the preliminary results in which the 65-year-old former Soviet Army member allegedly secured over 80 percent of the total votes polled. Opposition leaders, including the main challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, denounced the result, calling it a rigged election.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fled the country for Lithuania on August 11, fearing that she or her family could be harmed. The 37-year-old leader has been issuing video statements from Lithuania, demanding Belarusian authorities to accept their wrongdoings and to join hands with the opposition in order to evade punishment in the future.
International condemnation
The European Union and the United States have also expressed concerns over the recent developments in Belarus and have called on Lukashenko to respect the rights of the Belarusian people.
Foreign ministers of the European Union also held a meeting regarding this issue and also discussed possible sanctions against Lukashenko. Meanwhile, the last dictator of Europe has also managed to garner some international support as Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly extended support to the authoritarian leader.
(Image Credit: AP)
Read: Belarus President Lukashenko Says He Is Ready To Share Power As Protests Intensify
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