Independence of Belarus faces imminent threat – joint statement by KEY BELARUSIAN democratic ORGANIZATIONS and BNR Rada
On November 23, 2019, the BNR Rada has held a meeting with representatives of the main Belarusian democratic political parties and organizations, which are signatories to the joint 2012 Memorandum ‘On measures to safeguard the independence of Belarus’.
Following a discussion of the current situation surrounding the possible signing of documents between the official regime in Minsk and the Russian Federation that could lead to a further integration between Belarus and Russia and to the surrender the independence of Belarus, the participants of the meeting have decided to issue the following statement.
INDEPENDENCE OF BELARUS FACES IMMINENT THREAT
Joint statement by the signatories of the Vilnius Memorandum of 2012 by representatives of democratic political parties, popular movements and civic organizations.
We, the signatories of the Vilnius Memorandum of 2012 by representatives of democratic political parties, popular movements, civic societies of Belarus, together with the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic in Exile:
– are alerting the Belarusian people, and the world-wide community regarding the dangerous intent of the leaders of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenka to sign an agreement on the 8th of December 2019, that would increase the dependence of Belarus upon Russia, potentially threatening the further existence of Belarus as an independent sovereign state;
– are reminding all, that the Belarusian people have for centuries fought for independence, sacrificing thousands of lives, at first from the Russian Empire’s aggression, and later, from the Soviet empire, with the victims not having been forgotten;
-are underscoring, that this fateful agreement for the Belarusian people, is being prepared in total secrecy, without consulting elected representatives. Not a single proposed document has been openly published. Even the members of the subservient Parliament have not been even minimally briefed by the Belarusian Government;
-we are noting that the proponents for integration are basing their actions on the results of the Belarusian 1995 Referendum in which one of the issues was economic integration with Russia. The Referendum itself was unconstitutional and opposed to legal norms. The opposition deputies, who were staging a sit-in protest, were submitted to severe beating by masked law enforcement members. The Referendum was conducted with numerous falsifications, and as such, was not representing the will of the people;
-we are declaring, that since the election of President Lukashenka in 1994, there were no free and fair elections in Belarus, and that in November of 1996, a Constitutional coup took place and the Parliament was forcibly dispersed. During the recent electoral campaign, a substantial number of parliamentary candidates were not allowed to register, vote count observers were not allowed to witness the count, and in many other electoral precincts, other flaws took place. This time, not a single opposition candidate was elected to the “parliament”. Therefore, no legitimate legislative body exists in Belarus, which means that any agreement signed by the current government, is a-priori unconstitutional.
– we are reminding that Belarus voluntarily gave up the nuclear weapons located on its territory in response to security guarantees by the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia, defined in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. However, the threat to the sovereignty of Belarus by the agressive expansionist policies of Putin’s Russia may result in a dangerous geopolitical situation in Europe, bringing Russia’s armies 600 km closer to Europe’s capital cities.
We are confirming the position declared in the 2012 Vilnius Memorandum: “The Subject and the primary guarantors of the independent statehood of Belarus and the nationally-cultural identity of Belarusians are the Belarusian people themselves, who should be able to exercise their political will under free conditions.”
We are underscoring, that the maintenance of an anti-democracy, nonresponsive to the will of the people and devoid of constitutional legitimacy in Belarus, only raises the danger to the independence of the country.
We are calling on the democratic countries of the world, including those that have signed the Budapest Memorandum, as well as the European Union, to condemn all attempts by the Russian Federation to take advantage of the absence of a democratically elected government in Minsk in order to limit the sovereignty of Belarus.
We are calling on the democratic countries of the world to take the initiative of guaranteeing Belarus independence on an internationally-legal basis.
Alena Anisim, chairperson of the Francišak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society
Ryhor Kastusiou, chairperson of the BNF Party
Stanislau Shushkevich, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet, of the 12th convocation
Vintsuk Viachorka, a signatory of the Vilnius Memorandum
Paval Sieviaryniec, co-chairman of the Organizing Committee of Belarusian Christian Democracy
Alena Talstaja, co-chairperson of the Solidarity Movement “Razam”
Mikola Kazlou, acting Chairperson of the United Civic Party
Anatol Liabiedzka, Director of the center “European Dialogue”, deputy of the Supreme Soviet, of 12th and 13th convocations
On behalf of Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, Ivonka Survilla, President of the Rada.
December 1, 2019
Subsequent signatories:
Yuras Hubarevich, leader of Za Svabodu (‘For Freedom’) movement
Viachaslau Siuchyk, member of the Rada of the Belarusian National Congress
Uladzimier Matskievich, representative of the Sviezhy Viecier (‘Fresh Wind’) public initiative
Uladzimier Niakliayeu, former presidential candidate
Anastasiya Darafeyeva, chairperson of the Green Party
