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A30 WORLD NEWS
Diabierna 18 September 2020

Justice minister accuses EU of 'attack' on Polish democracy

(AP) — Poland's justice national laws that have in-
minister accused the Eu- creased political control over
ropean Union of waging the courts and official pro-
an "attack on democracy" nouncements against LGBT
after the European Parlia- rights.
ment passed a resolution The debate came after a Span-
criticizing lax adherence ish lawmaker, Juan Fernando
to the rule of law and dis- López Aguilar, prepared a re-
crimination against wom- port on fundamental rights
en, LGBT people and mi- in Poland. He said Thursday
norities in the EU mem- that Polish authorities "con-
ber-state. tinue to operate in contempt
of the European legal order."
Justice Minister Zbigniew "The broad support for this
Ziobro called the resolution report is the best response to
"absurd" and an assault on the allegations about a 'leftist
the "true rule of law" and said conspiracy,'" López Aguilar
Poland would fight efforts to said. "What the Polish gov-
cut the country's EU funding ernment has forgotten is that
over the allegations. democracy is not about ma-
Ziobro said the EU was try- jority rule, but about respect-
ing to impose its agenda and Hungary in recent years have need to mend Poland's justice lution on Poland this week, ing EU law, pluralism, the
values on Poland while disre- become challenges for the system. He insisted Warsaw's expressed concerns regarding right to dissent and protect-
specting the majority views bloc, with many other Euro- explanations are bringing re- the legislative and electoral ing minorities."
in the largely conservative pean countries now critical of sults and he sees a "change in system, the independence of The head of the EU's execu-
and Roman Catholic nation. what they see as backsliding. the temperature" in discus- the judiciary and fundamen- tive arm, European Com-
The minister said both Po- Poland's Prime Minister Ma- sions with the EU on the sub- tal rights. The resolution was mission President Ursula
land and fellow EU member teusz Morawiecki, on a visit ject. His Lithuanian counter- adopted on a 513-148 vote, von der Leyen, in her first S
Hungary "are a constant tar- to Lithuania, said his govern- part, Saulius Skvernelis, said with 33 abstentions. tate of the Union address on
get of leftist attacks." ment had "no major issues" Lithuania will never back any It followed a debate on Mon- Wednesday, also strongly de-
Once considered models for with Brussels, but that there sanctions on Poland and en- day in which the Polish gov- nounced the stigmatization
a democratic transition from is a certain 'lack of under- couraged more dialogue. ernment faced strong criti- of LGBT people by authori-
communist rule, Poland and standing" by the EU of the EU lawmakers, in their reso- cism, particularly over new ties in Poland.

Belarus president closes some borders, puts army on alert

today in front of this hall of the most beautiful, thousands of people, including European ambas-
advanced, patriotic people I want to appeal to the sadors, laying flowers there.
peoples of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine — stop After the initial broad crackdown on protests, Be-
your crazy politicians, don't let war break out! " larusian authorities changed tactics and tried to end
He did not mention neighboring Latvia, which like displays of dissent with the selective detentions of
Poland and Lithuania is a NATO member. demonstrators and the jailing of opposition leaders.
Earlier Thursday, the main opposition candidate in The U.S. and the EU have criticized the presi-
the disputed presidential election said that activ- dential election as neither free nor fair, and urged
ists are compiling a list of law enforcement officers Lukashenko to start talks with the opposition — a
who were allegedly involved in violence against call he has rejected. Washington and Brussels have
protesters denouncing the results of the vote. been pondering sanctions against Belarusian of-
Nearly 7,000 people were detained and hundreds ficials for alleged vote-rigging and the violent re-
were brutally beaten by police during the first sev- sponse to protests.
eral days of post-election protests. On Thursday, the European Parliament over-
Lukashenko's main challenger in the election, whelmingly passed a resolution rejecting the offi-
former English teacher and political novice Sviat- cial election results and saying it would not recog-
lana Tsikhanouskaya, said "we have been given the nize Lukashenko as the legitimate president once
(AP) — Belarus' president, beleaguered by names of those who were beating and torturing his current term expires Nov. 5.
six weeks of mass protests demanding his people. We are preparing a list of officials and law Belarus' foreign ministry responded strongly, say-
resignation, on Thursday announced he was enforcement officers who have taken part in law- ing: "We are disappointed that the European Parlia-
putting troops on high alert and closing the less repressions." ment, positioning itself as a serious, objective and
country's borders with Poland and Lithuania. Human rights groups are working with opposition democratic structure, could not find the political
activists to identify the officers and officials, Tsikh- will to look beyond its nose, overcome one-sid-
President Alexander Lukashenko's decision under- anouskaya said, adding that the list will be shared edness and not become a hostage to conventional
lines his repeated claim that the wave of protests is with the United States, the European Union and cliches."
driven by the West. He faces increasing criticism Russia. Russia, Lukashenko's main ally and sponsor, has
from the United States and the European Union. Tsikhanouskaya, who left for Lithuania in the wake maintained staunch support for the Belarusian
Protests began after the Aug. 9 presidential election of the election under pressure from Belarusian au- leader. Moscow announced this week it would of-
that official results say gave the authoritarian leader thorities, said the opposition will name the list in fer a new $1.5 billion loan to his government.
a sixth term in office; opponents say the results honor of Alexander Taraikovsky, a protester who Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said
were manipulated. died in Minsk the day after the election as police Friday during a trip to Lithuania that the two coun-
"We are forced to withdraw troops from the streets, dispersed peaceful demonstrators. tries — both Belarus' neighbors — will continue to
put the army on high alert and close the state bor- Authorities initially said an explosive device Tarai- offer medical and material assistance to Belarusians
der on the west, primarily with Lithuania and Po- kovsky intended to throw at police blew up in his who were hurt and persecuted during the protests.
land," Lukashenko said at a women's forum. hands and killed him. However, Associated Press He argued that the EU and international lenders
Lukashenko also said Belarus' border with Ukraine video showed he was not holding any explosives should offer at least 1 billion euros in economic
would be strengthened. when he fell to the ground, his shirt bloodied. support for Belarus and its businesses.
"I don't want my country to be at war. Moreover, Belarusian authorities later acknowledged that "It is crucial for Europe to be aware of how im-
I don't want Belarus and Poland, Lithuania to turn Taraikovsky might have been killed by a rubber portant a free and sovereign Belarus is for the se-
into a theater of military operations where our is- bullet. The street in the capital of Minsk where curity and the welfare of our entire continent,"
sues will not be resolved," he said. "Therefore, Taraikovsky died turned into a pilgrimage site, with Morawiecki said.