Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A few hours after a European statement issued in Brussels on the anniversary of the presidential elections in Belarus, the response came from the government in Minsk as false accusations that are being repeated. The integrity of the elections in Minsk is based on "false" accusations.

A statement by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said: "The statements made by the High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell, the foreign ministers of the Baltic states and Poland, and other politicians in the European Union on the occasion of the anniversary of the presidential elections that took place in our country are based entirely on false accusations that are being repeated." And the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the European Union is determined to reject the fact that things took place other than the scenario that was prepared in Brussels, adding: “Minsk disappointed Borrell and other European officials when they discovered that they were unable to influence the independent path that Belarus chose for itself, which is based on on peace and development. The ministry added, "The hypocrisy of the European Union and its member states is clear, and is represented in showing concern for the Belarusian people, but it will not succeed in spreading misinformation." Countries in the European Union do not stop repeating what they consider the lack of integrity of the presidential elections that took place in Belarus in August 2020, in which the current leader, Alexander Lukashenko, won by a wide margin between him and his main opponent, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Opposition representatives did not recognize the results of the vote and organized mass protests, describing Tikhanovskaya as the "leader of the resistance". Against the backdrop of events and failure to change the situation, Tikhanovskaya decided to leave Belarus to avoid legal consequences. In the fall of 2021, the Belarusian authorities opened a case file against the opposition, accusing them of forming fake government bodies and entering negotiations with international bodies on behalf of these bodies. In March, a court in Minsk sentenced Tikhanovskaya in absentia to 15 years in prison. And a European statement issued on Wednesday said, "August 9 marks the third anniversary of the rigged presidential elections in Belarus. On this day three years ago, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets to peacefully defend their right to choose their own future. These demonstrations were suppressed." Spontaneity was brutally brutalized by the Lukashenko regime. Today, three years later, the situation is worse than ever for those who dare express any criticism of the regime. We are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus. There are currently approximately 1,500 political prisoners imprisoned in appalling conditions, subjected to ill-treatment and torture, without access to basic health services. Many of these prisoners have been held for months without access to their lawyers and relatives who do not know their current whereabouts or health status. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated in his latest report that some of the widespread, systematic and gross human rights violations in Belarus may amount to crimes against humanity. The European Union continues to keep the situation at the top of the global agenda in international forums, and to strengthen efforts to hold perpetrators of human rights violations to account. The Lukashenko regime has also become a threat to regional and international security, through actions such as the forced landing of a civilian aircraft in May 2021 and the continued exploitation of irregular migration at the EU's eastern borders. As of February 24, 2022, the regime has become a partner in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, endangering the sovereignty and independence of Belarus in support of Russia's crimes in Ukraine. This complicity allowed the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia to Belarusian territory. On May 26, 2023, Russia and Belarus took another escalatory step by signing an agreement to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads on Belarusian soil. The European Union is concerned about the recent deployment of Wagner mercenaries in Belarus, the destabilizing effects in the region and the risks they pose to the sovereignty of Belarus. We have adopted sanctions in response to the repression against all independent voices and against persons belonging to national minorities, the breach of international law and the support of the Lukashenko regime for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The latest package of sanctions addresses the ever-worsening human rights violations and internal repression, and sends a signal that the EU continues to be fully engaged in support of human rights and democracy. It also addresses the risks of circumventing sanctions. The European Union will continue to put pressure on the Belarusian regime for as long as necessary. The European Union commends and supports the efforts of the Belarusian democratic movement. The determination of the Belarusian people who continue to take great personal risks in defense of democracy is a great factor for hope. The European Union provides support to victims of repression, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, independent media, journalists, students and businesses in exile, as well as initiatives aimed at protecting Belarusian identity, culture and language. We call on the Belarusian authorities to engage in genuine and inclusive dialogue with all elements of society, leading to free and fair elections. Once Belarus embarks on its democratic transition, the EU is committed to helping Belarus stabilize its economy and reform its institutions. Our goal is to help build resilience and more democratic reforms, to create new jobs and improve people's living standards, including through a comprehensive economic support plan of up to €3 billion for democratic Belarus. The European Union will stand by the Belarusians as long as it takes their path to an independent, democratic and prosperous state as part of a peaceful Europe.