Protests in Brussels against brining Russian troops in Belarus (Photo)
- 15.09.2009, 10:39
Activists of the Belarusian European Association held a picket in front of the European Commission and Council of Europe headquarters.
The objective of the picket was informing EU politicians and Brussels dwellers about the political situation in Belarus and organizing large-scale military exercises of the Russian army in Belarus.
The picket participants spread leaflets:
“The military operation in the Republic of Belarus
The Russian army entered a sovereign state without war declaration.
It’s not a story of the Cold War times or a political thriller. This is a real fact in the center of Europe.
Under the pretence of carrying out joint military exercises many-thousand military commitment was brought in independent Belarus on September 9, 2009. Sabre-rattling can be heard today close to the EU borders.
In spite of the neutral status of Belarus, declared in the Constitution, dictator Lukashenka organizes “military exercises” called Zapad-2009 (West-2009) on the order of the Kremlin. Whom are the Russian militarists going to fight in West against? Against Poland? Against the Baltic States? Against Ukraine?
According the old Kremlin tradition, the Russian Empire always has its enemies in independent democratic states. But Kremlin’s best friends are dubious dictatorial regimes all over the world.
Feeling his regime is weak, dictator Lukashenka makes another attempt to preserve his power with the help of Russian secret services. The dictator holds his power only due to the support of Moscow revanchists. So, an attempt of the Belarusian people to protest against bringing troops of an aggressor state in independent Belarus was suppressed in such a brutal way on September 9, 2009. Dozens of Belarusian activists were beaten up and arrested.
A year has passed since the aggression against independent Georgia. The results of it are occupied Georgian territories and victims among civilians. The war against Georgia was cynically shielded behind the status of peace keeping mission by the Kremlin. A real aim was declared behind the demagogic statements – ousting the legally elected Georgian president, who protects national interests of the country and builds the democratic state. The democratically elected Ukrainian leadership suffers constant pressure and interference with inner affairs of Ukraine.
Chechnia and the neighbouring republics swim in blood from the Russian arms. Illegal supplies of Russian arms to hot spots throughout the world in violation of UN sanctions cause death and instability in the world. The Kalashnikov riffle is symbol of international terrorism called for a reason. Usurper Lukashenka is the best ally of the Kremlin secret services in illegal arms traffic.
We, Belarusian political refuges in Europe, demand immediate and unconditional pullout of Russian troops from our country. Belarus has suffered a lot from wars initiated by Russia.
We call on the leaders of democratic countries not to be passive and secure guarantees of sovereignty and independence of or country – the Republic of Belarus. Indifference and passive reason to the aggression is a crime against democratic norms of the world.”