In her column for Die Zeit Online, Rakhlei analyzes the decision of the European Union that abolished almost all its sanctions against Belarus. Minsk is ready for mend relations with the West as it seeks to balance its political and economic dependence on Russia.
To explain this step, Brussels welcomed the constructive role Belarus played in peace talks on Ukraine and its proactive participation in the Eastern Partnership. However, there is more to that: the EU Member States try to bring more stability to their external borders even if it means lower expectations for democratic standards in the country.
This marker is …read more