Łatuška: Łukašenka sought EU sanctions relief at talks with French official

June 14, Pozirk. Opposition politician Pavieł Łatuška said Alaksandar Łukašenka appeared to rule out further releases of jailed dissidents unless the European Union eases sanctions on Minsk, citing talks with a French representative in late May.
Łatuška made this statement yesterday on his YouTube channel, arguing that recent developments offered no evidence that Łukašenka was prepared to change the “fundamentals of his dictatorial policy.”
Emmanuel Macron reportedly warned Łukašenka against involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine during a phone call on May 24. A few days later, the Belarusian ruler announced that a French representative would visit Minsk on June 1 or 2 for talks.
However, the visit took place earlier, as Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s Directorate-General for External Security, was in Minsk in the last week of May, a source who wished to remain anonymous told Pozirk.
Belarusian authorities periodically release groups of jailed dissidents in exchange for sanctions relief as part of negotiations with the visiting US diplomats.
As of June 14, human rights defenders identified at least 860 political prisoners in Belarus, but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.
Head of French intelligence visited Minsk last week – reports
Trump credits Łukašenka’s cooperation in April prisoner release
- Economy, PoliticsOver 300 Latvian companies trading with Belarus or Russia, Riga saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityRussian diplomatic spies in Italy targeted Belarusians for sabotage, newspaper saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition’s volunteer coordinator nominated for social policy chiefThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityDrill near Lithuanian, Polish borders involves rebuffing sabotage groupsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityNATO attachés saw for themselves that drill in western Belarus is defensive, ministry saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, Security, SocietyRussia returns remains of 252 Ukrainian soldiers via BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyHousing construction down nearly 12 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuania’s PM thanks US for diplomatic engagement with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus supplies nearly 1.5 million eggs to Georgia in January-JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEU, others to hold Belarus-themed ministerial event during UN General AssemblyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsLithuanian President Nausėda: No illusions about Belarusian regimeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, SocietyIrregular Belarus-Lithuania crossings halt on day of dissident deportationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityLithuania expresses “strong protest” to Minsk over combat drone incursionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityBelarus-based relay systems aided Russian drone strike minutes after Western officials crossed Polish border, Ukraine saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBiełstat: industrial inventories up 1.7 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics


