Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 March (BelTA) – The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the information in the press on the reaction of European institutions and some of the EU countries and policymakers to the events that took place in Belarus on 25 March. The relevant statement was made by spokesman for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Mironchik, BelTA has learned.

“First of all, I would like to note that citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression is embodied in the Constitution of our country. However, the keyword here is “peaceful”. When “Molotov cocktails” and cars with weapons are brought to the location of the event together with the involvement of black bloc, there is no way such manifestation can be called “peaceful”. This is the first,” the spokesman said.

“Secondly, in the face of escalation and geographical expansion of terrorism threats, authorities should be particularly security-conscious and act proactively instead of “cleaning up” the consequences afterwards. That is the lesson we learned from recent terrorist attacks in London, Berlin, Paris, Brussels, and Nice. This is what the Belarusian authorities were guided by on 25 March. The main goal was to ensure security of our citizens and prevent bloodshed, especially taking into account the existing information on the preparation for provocations,” Dmitry Mironchik stressed.

“Thirdly, yesterday’s event was not authorized. Participation in an unauthorized manifestation has certain ramifications in any country in the world. What so “un-European” did Western politicians see in the actions of our law-enforcement authorities? Were water cannons used to disperse demonstrations in Minsk? Was tear gas used? Thanks God, no. It went without victims,” the official representative of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

According to the spokesman, actions of the law-enforcement agencies were absolutely adequate. “In order to be consistent, European institutions and policymakers should express “concern” over numerous arrests on the eve of the celebration of the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March, and active usage of water cannons, tear gas and other non-lethal devices to disperse demonstrations in European capitals. Perhaps, it is easier, by force of habit, to put Belarus “under microscope” whilst turning a blind eye to the fact that sanctioned demonstrations on the same day went without any incidents in a number of cities of our country,” he said.

“We believe it is necessary to continue dialogue and cooperation with our foreign partners to reach better understanding of the stances of one another,” Dmitry Mironchik added.