1. Belarus is a country that for last 18 years has been ruled by one man – Alexander Lukashenko.

2. Belarus lacks democracy: oppositionists are put into prisons, media are censored and elections are rigged.

3. The European Union could influence Belarusian authorities to change the approach towards citizens of their own country.

4. Sanctions against Belarusian businessmen who finance Alexander Lukashenko’s regime would help. For example, Yuriy Chizh, a millionaire called Lukashenko’s „private banker”, together with the Riko Group, a Slovenian company, is to build an exclusive Kempinski hotel for ca. EUR 100 million in the centre of Minsk. Therefore, Slovenia objects to extension of the sanctions. It is not an isolated case when a country of the European Union is anxious about supporting actions that could effectively weaken the regime, and all because of its own particular interests.

5. Money cannot be allowed to win against solidarity and democracy. Let’s appeal to European politicians to build democracy, not a regime.

Read more about the situation in Belarus, the Slovenian hotel and sanctions: The Economist​, EUobserver​, Eastbook.eu.