The State Department sent a strong message this week to Belarus‘ tyrannical leader, Aliaksandr Lukashenka, an autocrat so threatened by democracy that he was intimidated by teddy bears pinned with messages about freedom and dropped by parachutes over the capital of Minsk in July.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton selected an imprisoned Belarusian dissident, Alies Bialiacki, to receive the annual Human Rights Defenders Award.
Mr. Bialiacki is a “political prisoner serving a 41/2-year sentence for his efforts to defend human rights and promote democracy,” the State Department said in announcing the award.
U.S. Ambassador Lee A. Feinstein in neighboring Poland presented the award to Mr. Bialiacki’s wife, Natallia Pinchuk, at the ambassador’s residence in Warsaw.
Mr. Feinstein said the award shows Mr. Lukashenka that Washington is watching him.
“It helps the regime to know that we are paying attention,” he said.
Mr. Bialiacki, who heads a human rights group called Viasna, was arrested in August 2011 on accusations of tax evasion.
The award ceremony was held in Poland because the U.S. has no ambassador in Belarus.
Four years ago, Mr. Lukashenka, angered by Washington’s continued criticism of his regime, kicked out 30 American diplomats, leaving only five to run the U.S. Embassy in Minsk. President Bush called Mr. Lukashenka the “last dictator” in Europe.
The State Department this week also dismissed Belarus‘ Sept. 23 parliamentary elections as neither free nor fair, after candidates from pro-regime parties won all 109 seats on the ballots.
Mr. Lukashenka’s anger was on full display after a small plane flown by three Swedish activists illegally entered Belarusian airspace and dropped 800 teddy bears over Minsk. They drifted over the capital on little parachutes, and each stuffed animal was pinned with a message promoting democracy and denouncing Mr. Lukashenka’s police state.
1xBet hosts thousands of fake matches, including in Belarus. They earn astronomical sums8
1xBet hosts thousands of fake matches, including in Belarus. They earn astronomical sums
«If the West Detained Lukashenko's Agents, There Could Be an Exchange Fund.» Vechorko on Political Prisoners, Cabinet Staff Turnover, Border Situation, and Visas9292
Comments