Europolitics: Progress made by Minsk “encouraging” but not sufficient - by Joanna Sopinska

Minsk in winter's grip

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Progress made by Minsk “encouraging” but not sufficient - by Joanna Sopinska

Last October, the EU decided to temporary lift visa sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 35 of his officials for half a year, to renew political contacts and open new possibilities for cooperation with the country following the Georgia-Russia war in August. To this end, the EU offered Belarus participation in the Eastern Partnership - a new Eastern-oriented initiative providing for deeper political and economic ties, including free-trade agreements and “in the long run” a visa-free regime, with five other countries in the region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).

However, to avoid the sanctions to be revived in April, and consequently to become a fully-fledged member of the Eastern Partnership, to be launched on 7 May in Prague, Belarus has to meet five conditions. These include reform of the electoral code and concrete action to safeguard democratic values, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms - including those of expression and assembly.