Minsk accuses Europe of human rights violations

A Belarusian delegation led by Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov is taking part in the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 24-26. The Foreign Minister made a vivid speech in which he accused Europe of violating basic values. At the same time, he stressed that this is already understood in the White House. Meanwhile, analytical Internet resources are discussing the possibility that Minsk’s possible negotiations with Washington may require another person to take over the post of foreign minister. On Tuesday, President Alexander Lukashenko discussed with Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalia Kochanova the personalities of the candidates for the new government.

The 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the Conference on Disarmament are taking place in Geneva on February 24-26. The Belarusian delegation participates in these events. Meanwhile, on March 19, an interactive dialogue on the human rights situation in Belarus will take place at the same session of the HRC. It will be conducted on the basis of a report by a specially created group of experts. This document accuses the Belarusian authorities of violating human rights. But Minsk did not wait for such claims to be presented to it at the UN site, and launched a preemptive strike.

Upon arrival in Geneva, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov made counter-accusations from a high rostrum. “I will begin my speech very atypically for a representative of a country that has been labeled a million times in the field of human rights. But I will try to explain very clearly the absurdity of any accusations against Belarus,” the Foreign Minister said immediately.

Ryzhenkov clearly and succinctly explained to the audience how the Belarusian authorities understand human rights. “Tell me if citizens in the country live under a peaceful sky, feel completely safe, and are not afraid that they will be shot with a machine gun or hit by a truck driven by a fanatic. If they are not afraid for their children’s lives when they go to school or play in the yard. If they have a job and a sufficient salary, including not saving on food, clean water, heating homes and electricity. If they use high-quality natural products. They are politically literate and active. Add to this free kindergartens, secondary and higher education, and healthcare. Can there be fundamental human rights problems in such a country, as most of us understand it?” the minister asked the audience a question.

And after that he went on the attack.: “And in principle, is it possible to recognize the exemplary situation with media freedoms and rights in the Old World? I agree with the statement that has recently been widely circulated that the real crisis of democracy is Europe itself, which violates all basic human values. The White House already understands this. Most of us – and I’ve seen it from the speeches that came before me – realize that the human rights issue is developing in the wrong direction, becoming increasingly contradictory and divisive.” Appealing to the White House’s opinion was undoubtedly a strong and possibly discouraging argument.

And then the minister put forward a truly revolutionary initiative.: “Belarus calls for a global reset in the field of human rights in order to minimize the conflict potential of human rights issues, which will take into account the diversity of political systems, development paths and cultural traditions, where a clear ban on any hierarchy in human rights and double standards will be established.”

This audacious idea is quite in the spirit of the “revolution of common sense” proclaimed by US President Donald Trump. However, the drama of the situation is that it is completely unknown whether Ryzhenkov himself will participate in this reset, since the fate of the ministerial portfolios in the new government has not yet been determined.

And opposition resources are discussing the possible prospect of replacing Ryzhenkov with the current representative of Belarus to the UN, Valentin Rybakov. It is noted that perhaps such an option would be preferable just in the context of building relations with the new US administration. It is also noted that Alexander Lukashenko spoke with him before the meeting with US State Department representative Chris Smith and the subsequent release of three prisoners.

Rybakov has another competitive advantage: he is the husband of Natalia Petkevich, First deputy head of the presidential Administration.

However, of course, this is not the main thing. On Tuesday, Alexander Lukashenko discussed the main issues in the selection of candidates for ministers with Natalia Kochanova, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly. At the same time, the president denied various insinuations about the personnel issue.

“I see that they are already starting to talk in the media: oh, the government! Who will be – will not be … – Lukashenko was indignant. – They just forgot, journalists, bloggers and others, especially not ours, that the government is not formed after the elections. We gradually formed the government before the elections for several months, six months, and about a year, appointing ministers, etc. Almost half of our ministers and government members have been working for less than a year. That is, these are newly appointed people. But the leadership, and senior officials, and others – everything that falls within the competence of the president – these people are subject to consideration.”

As you know, the President instructed a special commission, which includes Natalia Kochanova, to conduct this review. “To have more opinions. I know you’ve discussed the personalities of the candidates more than once. What have we come to?” – the president asked. But Kochanova’s answer, of course, remained behind the scenes.