Belarus Daily | 4 May

Lukashenko calls Europeans and Americans scumbags; adoption of the EU’s fourth sanctions package has been postponed; three doctors have been detained in Belarus over the past day

4 May 2021 | Voice of Belarus

Lukashenko attacks Western countries with new accusations

Lukashenko called Europeans and Americans scumbags because they “hadn’t helped” Belarus in the fight against the coronavirus.

However, a year ago, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that Lukashenko himself had rejected the offers of help. Over the past year, $3.8 million have been spent to purchase personal protective, medical and diagnostic equipment for Belarus as a part of the “Solidarity for Health” initiative funded by the EU.

In addition, Poland has provided Belarus with the largest humanitarian aid in its history as a part of the fight against the coronavirus. In June 2020, 40 trucks delivered 300 tons of medical and protective equipment to Belarus.

The adoption of the EU’s fourth sanctions package has been postponed

The European Union was unable to prepare documents necessary for imposing the sanctions in time for the EU Council meeting scheduled for 10 May. It is anticipated that the 4th package of sanctions will be adopted only in June.

Co-director of the Creative Politics Hub Nicolai Khalezin believes that the EU has distanced itself from what is happening in Belarus, “not wanting to move further in putting pressure on the dictatorship. And, in fact, this tactic unties Lukashenko’s hands. Not only does he not decrease the intensity of repressions, but he rather increases it”.

More than 80 former military and security officials were stripped of their ranks for their active citizenship

Alexander Lukashenko stripped more than 80 former military and security officials of their ranks. Belarusian authorities accused them of organization of and participation in unauthorized events, distribution of “extremist materials” on the Internet, calling for “radical actions”, and publishing government officials’ personal information. Criminal cases have been opened against some of the security officials.

The court convicted four representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

A Homel court passed judgment in the case “on preparation for the seizure of government buildings”.

Yury Ulasau was sentenced to 6.5 years in a maximum-security penal colony, Tatsiana Kaneuskaya received six years in a penal colony, and Dzmitry Ivashkou and Aliaksandr Shabalin each got six years in a maximum-security colony.

They were charged with conspiracy to organize riots and seize buildings. Ulasau was also charged with insulting a government official.

Three doctors have been detained in Belarus over the past day

Neurologist Aliaksandr Tsialeha was detained in Barysau yesterday. It is reported that at night, he was beaten in his own apartment and taken to a pre-trial detention center located on the other side of the country in Hrodna. Aliaksandr Tsialeha works in Russia and his parents live in Barysau. His acquaintances don’t know the reason for the doctor’s detention.

This morning, people in black came for the maxillofacial surgeon Andrei Liubetski, who is one of the best specialists in the country. In the morning, Liubetski’s Minsk apartment was searched. After that he was taken away. As of this evening, Liubetski has not been released yet. His location is unknown. Andrei’s relatives don’t know exactly what the reason for his detention is since the lawyer was unable to get hold of him.

A week ago, Liubetski’s wife Natallia and their four children left Belarus fearing persecution.

Dental surgeon Stanislau Sapun has also been detained today. According to the “Belye Khalaty” (White Coats) Telegram channel, the doctor and his child went outside and returned home a couple of minutes later accompanied by a group of unknown people in civilian clothes. He gave the child to his wife and was taken away. Now, he is at the Akrestsina detention center. It is unknown what Stanislau is accused of.