Belarus has as much democracy and human rights as EU, Lukashenka says on trials day


Belarus is a European country committed to the OSCE basic principles, Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said when meeting with president of the OSCE PA Christine Muttonen on Thursday.

“We will show once again that the prejudiced opinions that existed and still exist in the West are groundless. We will also show that Belarus is a European country, that there is as much human rights, the rule of law and democracy as in other European states, including in the European Union,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Meanwhile, trials of participants in Wednesday’s peaceful protests are in progress. Hearings are being held in Minsk, Mahiliou and Hrodna.

According to human rights activists, more than 50 people who took part in the authorized rally against the so-called ‘parasite’ laws were detained in Belarus yesterday. Some were released after spending a few hours in a police station, but protocols were drawn upon the best part of the detainees. Arresting protesters, plainclothes policemen refused to show their IDs, used violence and even fired tear gas.

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