Belarus opposition leader gets Sakharov Prize

Published December 17, 2020
BRUSSELS: European Parliament President David Sassoli (third left) claps as Belarusian opposition leaders Veranika Tsapkala (second left) and Svetlana Tikhanovskaya (third right) hold the Sakharov Prize certificates at the European Parliament on Wednesday.—AP
BRUSSELS: European Parliament President David Sassoli (third left) claps as Belarusian opposition leaders Veranika Tsapkala (second left) and Svetlana Tikhanovskaya (third right) hold the Sakharov Prize certificates at the European Parliament on Wednesday.—AP

BRUSSELS: Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Wednesday vowed the protest movement against the government of Alexander Lukashenko would prevail despite a crackdown by authorities, as she received the EU’s top rights prize.

“We are bound to win and we will win,” the exiled former presidential candidate said in Brussels, accepting the Sakharov Prize on behalf of the opposition movement.

Belarus has been gripped by four months of anti-government demonstrations that erupted after a presidential election in August which saw Lukashenko claim a sixth term in office.

His opponents say the polls were rigged and that political novice Tikhanovskaya, who ran in place of her jailed husband, was the true winner.

Belarusian security forces have unleashed a crackdown against the protests, detaining demonstrators and pushing opposition leaders into exile.

“I have only one wish this year, I want every Belarusian who is now in jail or was forced to live in exile to return home,” Tikhanovskaya, who is currently based in Lithuania, told the European Parliament.

Tikhanovskaya deman­ded a tougher response from Europe against Lukashenko’s government, as the strongman clings to power after more than a quarter of a century in charge.

“We call on Europe to be braver in their decisions and support the people of Belarus now — not tomorrow and not somewhere in the future,” Tikhanovskaya said.

“It is actions that matter.” The EU has slapped sanctions on over 50 officials, including Lukashenko and his son, and European ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday agreed to add more names to the blacklist.

Sources in the European Council and an EU diplomat told AFP that a meeting of ambassadors from the EU’s member states agreed on a list of 29 individuals and seven firms or organisations to be sanctioned.

The measures, to be formalised with the publication of the list on Thursday, will be the third round of sanctions the European bloc has imposed over the crisis in Belarus.

The latest EU escalation comes after Belarus announced it is to close its land border from Sunday, ostensibly to curb the spread of the coronavirus but triggering alarm in the opposition which sees it as a further clampdown on dissent.

At the start of the pandemic early this year, Lukashenko repeatedly dismissed virus concerns and did not impose a nationwide lockdown.

The new decree prevents Belarus nationals and foreigners who hold temporary or permanent residency from leaving the country via its land borders.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.
System failure
Updated 12 Nov, 2024

System failure

Relevant institutions often treat right to internet connectivity with the same disdain as they do civil and political rights.
Narrowing the gap
12 Nov, 2024

Narrowing the gap

PERHAPS a pat on the back is in order for the ECP. Together with Nadra, it has made visible efforts to reduce...
Back on their feet
12 Nov, 2024

Back on their feet

A STIRRING comeback in the series has ended Pakistan’s 22-year wait for victory against world champions Australia....