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Foreign ministers of Germany, Poland attack Lukashenka over sentences for post-election protesters

The foreign ministers of Germany and Poland on May 21 attacked Alyaksandr Lukashenka over harsh sentences imposed on his rivals in last year’s presidential election and other prominent opposition figures in connection with a post-election demonstration.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with the Polish and Russian counterparts in Kaliningrad, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle described the sentences imposed on Mr. Lukashenka’s political opponents as unjustified and unfair and as the result of the Belarusian leader’s political arbitrariness, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency said.

Mr. Westerwelle noted that he was shocked rather than disappointed at the events in Belarus.

He said that Germany backed European Union sanctions targeting those responsible for the sentencing of Mr. Lukashenka’s opponents but stressed that the sanctions would not harm or isolate ordinary Belarusians. The minister noted that the sanctions would not involve any boycott or trade embargo.

Polish Minister Radoslaw Sikorski noted that despite his assurances that last year’s presidential election would be free and fair, Mr. Lukashenka sent his rivals to prison, which Mr. Sikorski said shuts the door on his rapprochement with the European Union.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the Belarusian authorities to observe their international obligations, including those concerning respect for human rights and freedoms.

He said that Russia expected the OSCE observers attending the trials of post-election protesters in Minsk to draw up a report soon.

At the same time, the Russian minister cautioned against the introduction of unilateral sanctions against Belarus, which he said would not contribute to any progress. “We are certain that under all circumstances it is not isolation but engagement that helps promote market and democratic reforms,” Mr. Lavrov said.