Vyachorka criticizes third-sector's appeal to international organizations

The national platform of Eastern Partnership's Civil Society Forum has passed an appeal to the governments of European nations, Council of Europe, United Nations, OSCE, European Commission, the Council of the European Union over the situation in Belarus.  The document also proposes several measures that the international community could take with regard to Belarus, human rights activist Alena Tankachova who endorsed the appeal, told Euroradio. It is proposed to suspend the participation of Belarusian authorities in Eastern Partnership's programs and to put inter-governmental programs on energy, trans-border cooperation on hold. The talks over economic and trade preferences should also be suspended, in the view of those who signed the appeal. The talks can be resumed only after criminal prosecution of presidential contenders and civic activists who remain behind bars is dropped.

NGO leaders also request to set up an international commission to investigate the December 19 events but call for a well-weighed and efficient response from the international structures.

Vincuk Vyachorka, the former chairman of Belarusian Popular Front party, has poured critisim on the appeal. In his view, the illusion of engaging Lukashenka into Europe without changing his essense, has failed. Talking about the need to take cautious decisions and prevent the isolation of Belarus means they don't know how decisions are taken in Europe, says Vyachorka. When Europe says "isolation of Belarus", it means isolation of the country's leadership. Therefore, this appeal of NGO leaders in Strasbourg can be abused to prove that the civil society in Belarus objects to tough measures against the regime, in the view of Vyachorka.