Shenderovich: Russia, Belarus, Cuba, and Syria have political prisoners in common

• 14.09.2009, 12:29

The famous writer commented on refusal of some countries to support the UN resolution on Georgia’s territorial integrity.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Resolution on the status of refigures from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia and Belarus were strongly against the resolution. The paper says Abkhazia and South Ossetia are parts of sovereign Georgia.

19 states, including Armenia, Belarus, Algeria, Viet Nam, Cuba, Myanmar, and Syria, stood against the resolution.

Speaking about the common features of these countries on Ekho Moskvy radio, Russian publicist and writer Viktor Shenderovich noted: “of we try to look for something common, we’ll find that all these countries have political prisoners, don’t have free press and free elections. Under different flags – Myanmar, Armenia, where a shooting took place, and (a bow to the Russian aid) Belarus, Cuba. We are among these countries! I don’t understand what we do in the G8, we are 6talking about democracy, but have Syria and Myanmar as our allies.

According to him, Armenia wants Russian money and energy. “It can support, and, if we cut off gas supplies, even recognize something. This is a lever of pressure. We can make troubles. Well, we can cut off gas. We can do a lot, not even speaking about nuclear weapon,” Shenderovich concluded.

We remind that Belarus supported Russia‘s military actions in South Ossetia during the conflict with Georgia. Alyaksandr Lukashenka and MFA’s officials hinted Suhum and Tshinval would be recognized by Minsk.

But the issue was delayed. Lukashenka advised to ask the parliament about the matter hindering such issues were beyond his scope.

Experts say the Belarusian dictator will continue playing on contradictions of Russia and the EU, dragging on recognition of the republics as long as possible and trying to get preferences from the both sides.