Andrei Sannikov: «Insensate power of riot police will turn against regime»

• 13.12.2007, 13:34

“Impudence and insensate power of riot police will finally turn against regime. Formation of armed gangs under protection of state has always had consequences for regime,” international coordinator of Charter’97 Andrei Sannikov thinks.

According to the former foreign minister of Belarus, crackdown of demonstration “For independent Belarus!” shows that “we have no state bodies, but the regime, which is driven into a corner today and sees no opportunities the opposition is speaking about – establishing of relation with Europe grounded on the offers made by the EU a year ago. Instead of this the regime is rushing around in the country and beyond its borders, compounding its situation and the situation of Belarus as an independent European state. Having dispersed the action, arrested Ivashkevich and beaten Hvedaruk, Lukashenka will find himself face to face with Putin.”

“Of course, we should help Zmiter now. We are all worrying about his health. I think it’s time to start up an international investigation of beating and tortures of people.

It should be reminded that the demonstration “For Independent Belarus!” timed to Vladimir Putin’s visit to the session of the Council of State of the so called union was broken up by riot police. Youth leader Zmiter Hvedaruk, one of the rally participants, got to hospital with brain concussion.