Transatlantic TakeBERLIN—The not-exactly democratic, but this time peaceful, reelection of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko this weekend was followed by an expected announcement that EU sanctions will be suspended for four months. Even if the West has many reasons to attempt a pragmatic mending of its relations with Minsk, it should be careful not to unwittingly help silence remaining independent voices.
“The West has finally realized that its sanctions against Belarus are detrimental!” This was the take from the victorious Belarusian state media on Monday. Since political prisoners were pardoned in August, Minsk has expected the EU to make the next overture …read more
Freeze the Belarus Sanctions, But Don’t Leave Civil Society out in the Cold
