EU presented a working draft of a comprehensive plan of assistance to Belarus and promised to adopt new sanctions in the coming weeks; political prisoners are beaten up in Belarusian prisons for going on a hunger strike and not provided medical help
10 May 2021 | Voice of Belarus
Source: Radio Svaboda
EU presented a working draft of a comprehensive plan of assistance to Belarus
Today, at an online meeting with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maciej Popowski, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission (DG NEAR), presented the draft of a comprehensive EU Aid Plan for Belarus.
The plan provides for financial macro assistance to Belarus and support for political and economic reforms with the participation of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. A precondition is that the aid goes to a democratic Belarus after new free elections and not to the regime during the transition period. The Сoordination Сouncil, National Anti-Crisis Management and Veronika Tsepkalo spoke in support of the plan. They signed an appeal to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to publish the plan and support the idea of a high-level international conference to resolve the crisis in Belarus.
EU representative promised to adopt the next package of sanctions against the Belarusian authorities in the near future
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the fourth package of sanctions could be adopted “in the coming weeks”. “In Belarus, the regime continues to persecute and intimidate its citizens. Now it is persecuting the Polish community as well. We are working on the next package of sanctions which I hope will be adopted in the coming weeks,” said Josep Borrell. “The fourth package will take into account ‘everything that happens in the country’”, Borrell stressed.
The EU explains the lengthy preparation of this package by the need of Brussels to examine whether the sanctions already in place are effective. Currently, 88 persons are under restrictions, including Alexander Lukashenko, as well as seven businesses and organisations.
Also today, the president of Poland Andrzej Duda spoke about the independence of Belarus at a meeting with the president of Romania. “We need to be vigilant and, firstly, observe the situation, and secondly, be ready in case of any threat from that side, as well as in the international arena, to defend Belarus in order to preserve its sovereignty,” said Andrzej Duda.
Political prisoner Siarhei Verashchagin is denied urgent medical examination
Relatives of political prisoner Siarhei Verashchagin report that he needs urgent medical examination and treatment which he is denied in the penal colony citing quarantine restrictions due to the coronavirus.
Siarhei Verashchagin was sentenced to five years in prison under Article 364 of the Criminal Code (violence against police officers). He was arrested at home on 12 August 2020. During the arrest, he was severely beaten. At that time the doctors diagnosed Verashchagin with a closed head injury, a contusion to the brain, and multiple contusions to the spine, knee joints, elbows, and temporal areas.
Now Verashchagin suffers from constant headache and dizziness, darkened vision, numbness in the face, arm, and leg on his left side, difficulty talking and moving. He also has joint pain in his knees and elbows. And beginning to lose his sight. However, Verashchagin is not provided medical help.
His relatives hope to draw public attention to the situation and thereby influence the management of the Penal Colony No. 13.
Are Belarusian prisoners beaten up for going on a hunger strike?
On 24 April 2021, in Zhodzina, riot police broke into a private sauna and arrested thirteen women and seven men. According to the policemen, the arrested “organised an unauthorised mass event with the use of protest symbols”. Later, all the men were sentenced to 15–25 days of detention.
Outraged by the illegal, unjustified sentence, the arrested Yauhen Sheliapen, Aliaksandr Kavaliou, and Stanislau Repkin went on a hunger strike. After that, the men were beaten up in the detention centre. The beatings continued for five days until the men gave up the hunger strike.
After 15 days in the detention centre (he was sentenced to 25 in total), Stanislau Repkin was admitted to hospital with a hypertensive crisis and a large number of bruises all over his body, the Belhalat_by Telegram channel reports. Repkin’s whereabouts are unknown. Another detainee, Yauhen Sheliapen is suspected to have a broken leg. But medics are not allowed to see the men, and no medical help is provided. The detention centre also does not accept any parcels with medicines, clothes or food products for these detainees. Lawyers are not allowed to see the men.
