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Opposition leaders warn EU against following Minsk's rules

The leaders of three opposition organizations have issued a petition calling on the European Union not to "play by the rules of the Belarusian authorities."

In the petition, "More Europe for Belarus," Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, chairman of the "Tell the Truth!" movement, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, chairman of the Movement for Freedom, and Alyaksey Yanukevich, chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front, urge the European Union not to wait for some decisions by the Belarusian government if it was possible for Brussels to take its own steps, BelaPAN said. 

A fully fledged dialogue between the Belarusian government and the EU would be possible only after the release of the political prisoners and the removal of all restrictions on the freedom of the former prisoners of conscience, the petition stresses. However, a number of steps can be taken right away for the sake of stability in the region, the independence of Belarus, the openness of Belarusian society, and urgent economic reform in the country, the petition says.

In particular, the EU should make the visa process for the citizens of Belarus as simple as possible and eventually abolish the Schengen visa fee; ensure that Poland and Lithuania start implementing their local border traffic agreements with Belarus; simplify the rules for small and medium-sized enterprises in Belarus willing to establish joint companies in Europe; create more opportunities for Belarusians to study at European universities; and increase the support of civil society and opposition organizations in Belarus.

The petitioners welcome the European Dialogue on Modernization with Belarus and urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately get involved in the EU's program.