China, Russia and European Union diverge as Belarus political crisis deepens
The political crisis in Belarus has continued to escalate as the nationals continue in their protests against the leadership of Alexander Lukashenko.
Developed countries of the world are taking varying positions on the matter which has continued to tear the country apart.
China, Russia and the European Union have drifted further apart on the question of Belarus, as the fate of its embattled long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenko hangs in the air amid widespread protests against his sixth election victory, agency reports say.
China warned against “foreign forces” wreaking chaos in the Eastern European state, while Russia threatened to send troops to Belarus to quash the protests and the EU refused to accept the election result that saw Lukashenko elected to a sixth term, calling instead for “peaceful, democratic transition of power”.
After an emergency video summit, EU Council President Charles Michel told the people of Belarus the bloc stood “by your side” as unprecedented protests against strongman Lukashenko entered an 11th day.
At least two protesters have died after being confronted by the Belarusian police, while thousands have been arrested for taking part in protests after Lukashenko declared that he won 80 per cent of votes in last week’s election.
President Xi Jinping – the first to be awarded the Order for Strengthening Peace and Friendship medal from Lukashenko in 2016 – was among the first, and few, world leaders to offer him congratulations after the election last week.
But on Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian cast the focus on the Belarusian people, saying: “China has always respected the development path chosen by the Belarusian people in accordance with their national conditions and their efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security and development.”
“We do not hope that the situation in Belarus will escalate into chaos and oppose external forces triggering division and disturbances in Belarusian society,” Zhao said, without naming any countries. “We hope and we believe that Belarus can ensure political stability and social peace by its own effort.”
His remarks came days after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin offered military support to Minsk if necessary, under a security pact covering ex-Soviet states.
Moscow’s approach had provoked a strong reaction from the EU, with the 27 leaders holding an emergency summit on Wednesday and called on Putin to refrain from military means.
“Military intervention by Russia would make the situation much more complicated,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.
“The people of Belarus want change – and they want it now,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said afterwards, adding that the EU would back a “peaceful, democratic transition of power”
The EU has been under strong pressure to act in concert on the situation in non-EU member Belarus from Eastern European member states such as Lithuania and Poland, who feared the growing influence of Russia in the region.
Ahead of the meeting, Belarus’ opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who is self-exiled in Lithuania, called on EU leaders not to accept the election result.
dpa
