In Belarus

• Indicative programme

  Thursday 11 February 2021

  14.30 - beginning of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, chaired by Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

• At the end (+/- 17.15) of the meeting - press conference in live streaming

  Arrangements for the press conference

  Please note that there will be no physical press conference.

• Journalists who already registered for previous Foreign Affairs Council press conferences do not need to register again.
• Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants approximately half an hour after the deadline.

• The Council today added 15 members of the Belarusian authorities, including Alexandr Lukashenko as well as his son and National Security Adviser Viktor Lukashenko, to the list of individuals sanctioned in relation to the violent repression and intimidation of peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists after the 2020 presidential election in Belarus.
• Restrictive measures, which now apply to a total of 59 individuals, include a travel ban and an asset freeze.
• In addition, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.
• The relevant legal acts, including the names of the persons concerned, have been published in the Official Journal.

• Recalling the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union of 11 September, the EU once again reiterates that the 9 August Belarus Presidential elections were neither free nor fair.
• The European Union does not recognise their falsified results.
• On this basis, the so-called inauguration of 23 September 2020 and the new mandate claimed by Aleksandr Lukashenko lack any democratic legitimacy.
• The European Unions position is clear: Belarusian citizens deservethe right to be represented bythosethey freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections.

• Tsikhanouskaya was the principal opponent of Aleksandr Lukashenko in the Presidential Elections of 9 August.
• She ran instead of her husband, a well-known blogger who was jailed in May 2020.
• Lukashenko miscalculated, thinking that a 37-year old woman, a former teacher and a housewife would not pose a challenge.
• Following the election, Tsikhanouskaya has been forced to leave the country on 11 August and remains in exile in Lithuania since then.

It is impressive and moving, to see hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who every weekend have come out to protest peacefully, with courage and dignity

• But it is also inspirational.
• It is impressive and may I say, moving, to see hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who every weekend have come out to protest peacefully, with courage and dignity.
• For their part, the authorities have responded with ever larger waves of arrests, violence and intimidation.

The EU’s four lines of action

• So today, the discussion among ministers was all about lines of action that the EU could pursue to give substance to our political stance.
• We agreed to pursue four basic tracks: First, sanctions.
• A package of around 40 names and entities has been prepared, which targets those responsible for the electoral fraud, the repression of peaceful protests and state-run brutality.
• Unfortunately, the sanctions have not been adopted yet, because it requires unanimity and one EU Member State was not ready to join the consensus.
• In the meantime, we will continue to re-evaluate the list of 40 names on a permanent basis, in light of events.

The time has come for the EU to call things by their name: Mr Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy.

• With the imminent, attempt by Mr Lukashenko to organise a pseudo inauguration (possibly already this week), the time has come for the EU to call things by their name: Mr Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy.
• It is clear that the Coordination Council must be included in a forthcoming national dialogue.
• They are clearly calling for the holding of new, free and fair elections under international observation.
• We also support the proposal by the current and future OSCE Chairman in Office, Albania and Sweden, to go to Minsk.
• Until now, Lukashenko has refused to engage with the European Union at any level.

There should be no third party interference; the destiny of Belarus should be decided by its people and them alone.

• Whats happening in Belarus is not a geopolitical issue; it is not about choosing a side, between the EU and Russia.
• There should be no third party interference; the destiny of Belarus should be decided by its people and them alone.
• We know of course about Belarus historical, political and cultural ties with Russia.
• At the same time, they can be helpful in convincing the Belarusian authorities to enter into dialogue with the pro-democracy groups.
• We want to use all instruments and levels of engagement bilaterally, but also regionally including in the Eastern Partnership framework.
• And indeed, the fourth and final line of action is about EU support to the Belarusian population.
• We are looking, also with Member States, how we can scale up our support in that crucial area.