Belarus clamps down on dissent

The Belarusian regime is stepping up its repression of political dissent ahead of a major opposition rally planned for 14 October.

The ‘European march for freedom’, organised by a broad alliance of pro-democracy activists, is built around 12 specific offers that the EU has made to Belarus in case it shakes off the authoritarian regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The offers essentially entail the expansion of the EU’s neighbourhood policy to the isolated country.

Because the march is not openly political, but promotes closer links with the EU, it is more difficult for the authorities to quell the organisers.

Deepening relations with Brussels is a professed goal of the Belarusian government, though it rejects the democratisation measures which the EU demands in return. But in a sign of increasing nervousness on the part of the regime, several of the organisers have been detained and opposition figures fear further repression ahead of the event. Observers say that the authorities are targeting the organisational structure of the pro-Europe move-ment in the hope that they can keep turnout low.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European commissioner for exte-rnal relations, called on the authorities to release all political detainees.

Analysts believe that Lukashenka has adopted a more pro-European stance in recent months in an attempt to strike a balance between Moscow and Brussels. Belarus, previously a steadfast ally of Russia, felt betrayed when Gazprom earlier this year doubled the price it charges Belarus for gas.

The Belarusian regime is stepping up its repression of political dissent ahead of a major opposition rally planned for 14 October.