In an interview published today in the Spanish daily El País, the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Policy said that Brussels “has no intention of converting Belarus into a second Ukraine”, referring to the conflict with Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The EU rejected the result of the August 9 presidential election in Belarus, a country where several protests have taken place after the re-election of Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years.
“The tension between Europe and Russia was marked by gunfire, violence and a disintegration of Ukrainian territory that continues today. The problem for Belarusians today is not to choose between Russia and Europe. It is about choosing between freedom and democracy, ”said Josep Borrell.
The head of European diplomacy stressed that it is necessary to continue the dialogue with Lukashenko, comparing with the situation of Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro.
“Maduro and Lukashenko are in exactly the same situation. We do not recognize that they were legitimately elected. But, whether we like it or not, they control the Government and we must continue to deal with them, although we do not recognize their democratic legitimacy ”, he explained.
The crisis in Belarus was triggered after the August 9 elections, which, according to official results, led President Alexander Lukashenko, in power for 26 years, to a sixth term, with 80% of the vote.
The opposition denounces the election as fraudulent and thousands of Belarusians took to the streets across the country to demand Lukashenko’s removal.
Protests have been severely suppressed by security forces, with nearly 7,000 people detained, dozens injured and at least three killed.
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