Lukashenka’s statements called “total absurdity” in Austria

• 21.03.2008, 12:37

Heinz Patzelt, general secretary of Amnesty International Austria called Lukashenka’s statements about democracy in Belarus and Austria.

As we have informed, A. Lukashenka stated in Minsk in an interview to the Austrian Press Agency (APA) yesterday: “Democracy in Belarus is the same as in Austria, almost identical. Democratic values in Belarus are as high as in any other European country”.

Lukashenka said: “It’s absolutely unacceptable for us when the EU starts dancing to the US tune.” “We do not like it when European politicians position themselves as independent, but when the matter concerns serious issues they follow in the wake of the American policy,” he said.

In a conversation with Radio Svaboda correspondent Heinz Patzelt commented on some passages of yesterday’s interview of Lukashenka. The Austrian human rights watchdog called the situation with human rights in Belarus highly problematic and dangerous. As said by him. Lukashenka rules Belarus using methods of Brezhnev era. Belarus is the only European country having death penalty today; opponents of the regime are persecuted harshly here.