Belarus plans to appeal to international courts over the EU sanctions, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told reporters during his working trip to Brest Oblast.
“It is a brainless, ill-conceived policy,” Alexander Lukashenko said referring to the EU sanctions against Belarus.
“I want to instruct our lawyers, we have enough of professionals, to take this issue to appropriate courts, bring lawsuits against those who imposed not only the economic sanctions but also sanctions against journalists,” the head of state said.
He noted that a journalist expresses his point of view, his position. “What right do you, a democratic country, have to judge a journalist for his position? Why have you banned entry to individual journalists to the European Union?” asked the President.
When speaking about the sanctions against the government officials, Alexander Lukashenko said: “It has nothing to do with people who work in government, but who had no relation to the elections, especially the 19 December events, have to do with all this? Five people at best (the President, the Interior Minister and others) had something to do with the December 19 events. Punish them, if you see it fit. But why all these people? You ban entry to judges and at the same time rhapsodize independent courts,” said the President.
“Our lawyers have to seriously address this issue. Let them explain themselves. They do not have objective explanations. If the court which we will address to does not adopt this decision (in favor of Belarus – note by BelTA) we will see the real face of Western courts. In this regard they drove themselves deep in the corner,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
