Opposition members deny US embassy funding link

The Belarusian state television on Sunday accused the US embassy in Minsk of funding the opposition in Belarus. It voiced the list of personalities who are allegedly bankrolled by the Americans. In his turn, human rights activist Ales Byalyatski tells the European Radio for Belarus that he has forgotten when he last visited the US embassy in Minsk. Yulia Kozulina describes these allegations as degrading her family.

Yury Hubarevich, is the only man on the Belarusian Television’s list who has “admitted“ contacts with the US mission in Belarus. Several years ago, he was mediating the US humanitarian assistance for a district hospital in Belarus.

“A hospital in Belaazyorsk received a significant amount of medicines and medical equipment from the United States. All the allegations by the Belarusian television that the money was directed against the Belarusian regime are lies and nothing else”, Hubarevich told the European Radio for Belarus.

Prominent human rights activist Ales Byalyatski says the facts voiced by the Belarusian television hardly resembles the truth.

“I can say that this is nonsense. I have not received any grants. I can’t even remember when I visited the American embassy for the last time. I wish BT reporters could verify the information they get from their sources”, he said.

Lyudmila Hraznova, formerly a deputy chairperson of the United Civic Party, compares the BT report with Goebbels-type propaganda.

“The aim of this report is to stir hate among our citizens and to deceive our compatriots in order to continue ruling this mass of misinformed people who do not understand what is going on in the country. This resembles Goebbels’ propaganda”.

Yulia Kozulina, a daughter of political prisoner Alexander Kozulin, describes these accusations as degrading her family.

“I am indignant at the reports on Belarusian television which are libeling me and my whole family. We have never received those grants. We don’t live on American money”.

Lawyer Vera Stramkouskaya told the European Radio for Belarus that he has never had any ties with the US embassy.

“I have never received anything. Actually, what does it mean, “to live on this money”? I live on what I earn and that’s enough for me. This is just nonsense!”

Dzmitry Shymanski, the chairman of Party of Belarusian Popular Front’s branch in Brest, is the only person on the list who is going to take the Belarusian television to court. He “starred” in several television reports several days ago.