"We hear their voices"

Merkel announced the creation of a plan of joint actions for Belarus. This is the most thoughtful strategy for helping protesting

On February 9, the general civil protest movement in Belarus will be already six months old. The authorities of Germany have developed a detailed plan for helping citizens of this republic and, it seems, will gradually open borders for them. The document, called the "Action Plan" Civil Society of Belarus, provides for assistance to students, journalists, victims of torture and their relatives. The Chancellor Angela Merkel in her emotional speech explained that this is the only way to prevent the world from forgetting the voices of Belarusians and help the country. At the same time, the German plan will not be resolved by the Lukashenko conflict itself with the people, the politician emphasized, because such problems in principle are not solved from the outside. The New Gazeta cites Merkel’s speech in translation and briefly says that we know about, perhaps, the most open and thoughtful strategy for the Lukashenko regime.

Merkel statement
“Next week there will be exactly half a year since the presidential election in Belarus, where Alexander Lukashenko declared himself a winner. Germany and the European Union do not recognize the results of these elections, since they were not democratic. They were neither free, nor honest, nor transparent. OSCE observers were not allowed there. Potential alternative candidates obstructed, their rights were systematically violated. After the election, the opposition were in prison, forcedly left the country and looked for refuge abroad.

For six months, the brave people of Belarus have been entering the streets of Minsk and many other cities throughout the country every week. They are peacefully and with worthy admiration of perseverance against the & falsification of elections, expressed for political changes and complete transformation of the country. &

But the state power of Alexander Lukashenko has only one answer to peaceful demonstrations - violence. Special services are beaten on the streets of men and women, young and elderly people. Those who go to jail threaten torture - and there are numerous evidence. I am deeply impressed with the unshakability of the Belarusian democratic movement. It seems that the authorities & expect that the world will soon forget about these brave people. & We should not give it to this.

We urge the political leadership of Minsk to immediately stop repressions and release political prisoners. We urge to finally begin to respect the right of our citizens to freely expression of opinions. Germany and the European Union will continue to hold persons guilty of violations of human rights in Belarus, as we previously did with the help of sanctions. &

But first of all, now we are thinking about men and women who risk many for the sake of democracy in their own country.

I think about Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, with whom I managed to meet here in Berlin. And about her ally of Maria Kolesnikova, who, like many others, was locked in prison. &

The Federal Government of Germany adopted the "Action Plan" Civil Society of Belarus. Thus, the persecuted opposition and people in a humanitarian difficulty can receive visas and shelter in a simplified manner. We want to help injured victims of torture, as well as establish scholarships and support independent media.

This will not resolve the conflict between legal foundations and repression in Belarus. But this is impossible to do from the outside. But this will show all courageous people in this country that we are on their side, that we hear their voices - today, like six months ago. ”

The plan "Civil Society of Belarus". What do we know about him?

Merkel in her speech touched on the topic of solidarity with Belarus only in general terms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, meanwhile, has already managed to prepare a detailed program of actions, resorting to the provisions of Article 22 of the Law on the right to accommodate. The norms of German legislation allow the Ministry of Internal Affairs to allow the entry of a certain category of foreigners "to protect the political interests of Germany." Here are the main provisions of this plan:

• 21 million euros . The German Foreign Ministry has already laid down so many budget funds on a plan for joint actions.

• Simplified visa mode. Pursued Citizens of Belarus will be able to get asylum in Germany. Entrance to the country will also be allowed the closest relatives of those who need protection from the actions of the Lukashenko regime.

• The bureaucratic procedure remains unclear. Political persecution, according to the law, cannot become the basis for the quick issuance of long -term visas in Germany. The plan also does not mean how many Belarusians can accept Germany. It is assumed that the authorities of Germany can quickly change some provisions of the laws previously applied to refugees.

• Treatment and psychological support. Belarusians who survived the torture and violence by the security forces can count on medical care from Germany.

• The consequences of torture will be documented. Germany works together with France, the Netherlands and Norway on the creation of centers for "documentation and archiving the facts of committed human rights violations." The unnamed part of the funds allocated 21 million euros will go to the development of this initiative. The evidence base collected in these centers, according to the German authorities, will help to achieve punishment for state criminals in Belarusian and international courts. “To finish the impunity of criminals and make it possible to persecute them according to the law,” the creation of centers in the document is motivated, the issue of creating which was raised at the negotiations of the Federal Republic of Germany with the opposition.

• Styropendes and support for independent media. Students of Belarusian universities, expelled due to participation in protests or civil positions, will be able to receive financial support for training in Germany. Part of the funds will be sent to the aid of the Belarusian media, but so far the government does not disclose how and between which media money will be distributed.

• Germany follows the example of the Baltic . Latvia and Lithuania have already supported the protesters in Belarus, Poland also shows solidarity. “It is important that Germany becomes a safe harbor and, together with Poland and Lithuania, takes more responsibility,” the German “green” say , which require the rapid application of new norms.