The Russian ambassador in Minsk argued with a zmagarka journalist
A journalist from the opposition news agency BelaPAN at a press conference in Minsk was outraged by the words of Russian Ambassador Yevgeny Lukyanov that the sanctions imposed by the EU against Belarus are “by definition illegal” because they were introduced without a decision of the UN Security Council.
She appealed that human rights are being violated in Belarus. The Russian diplomat asked which person exactly. The journalist said that he could name 470 names of “political prisoners.”
“What does Russia have to do with it? A question for the Russian ambassador about political prisoners, as you say, in Belarus. This is an internal matter of a sovereign country. I have no right to interfere in these matters under the Vienna Convention. This is interference in internal affairs. You smile so ironically. You don’t want to pay attention to this convention,” Lukyanov replied.
The journalist was indignant that in Russia they do not pay attention to “what is happening here.”
“Why do you think that we don’t notice what’s happening? Are you reading my dispatches? – Lukyanov asked.
The journalist referred to the public reaction of Russian politicians.
“The public reaction can only be like this. Interfering in the internal affairs of other states is not our practice and not our policy. Period,” Lukyanov snapped.
Then the journalist asked how Russia felt about the fact that Belarusians’ sympathy for her “collapsed” after Moscow supported Lukashenko.
“If it is so, then it is so. Someone was disappointed. Those who sympathized with Russia probably continue to sympathize. Russia is not a girl for everyone to like. You don't need to love us. We have never offered this format of relationship to anyone... We need to look at things, goals and consequences. If you believe that the events that happened in your country should have led to an improvement in your life, that is your point of view. But I believe that your statehood was prepared for the fate of an ordinary country where the color revolution won,” Lukyanov said.
The journalist said that she was in Ukraine after the Maidan victory, and she liked it there. “So you are on the other side of the barricades, and I am on the other,” the diplomat sadly stated.
“The fact that our position causes different assessments in Belarusian society is understandable and natural. We build our foreign policy based on our national interests. If someone didn't like it, what can we do? Should we adjust our policies based on an analysis of our national interests? Our interests,” the ambassador said later, emphasizing the word “ours.”
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.