Belarus standoff continues while Moscow and Washington appear restrained

Belarus standoff continues while Moscow and Washington appear restrained

Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

President Lukashenko of Belarus is using the state apparatus in the hope of quelling opposition forces and that protests will decline. Of course, this might be wishful thinking on his part.

Internationally, unlike Ukraine, it appears that the European Union (EU), the Russian Federation, and the United States seek a compromise. If so, then this bodes well for civil society and stability in a very important geopolitical region between competing forces.

Interestingly, TASS News is highlighting human-rights abuses in Belarus and possible unconstitutional measures by Lukashenko. At the same time, the leaders of France and Germany have called for working with the Russian Federation to solve the ongoing crisis.

TASS reports, “Belarusian human rights activists have recorded evidence from 450 people who were beaten up by police during protests, the Vesna human rights center said on Tuesday.”

According to Tass and other sources, at least 6,000 people have been detained since the disputed election result was announced. Of these, many have been held for up to ten days.

The Vesna center says, “These facts of torture and mistreatment are systemic.”

In another article by Modern Tokyo Times, it was reported, “It appears that political elites in America, the EU, and the Russian Federation seem content for the Belarus people to decide the fate of Lukashenko. Thus not generating a negative geopolitical conflict that would bode ill for peaceful protesters.”

It is hoped that the EU, the Russian Federation, and the United States will work with all sides in Belarus for a peaceful outcome to materialize.

Thus it is incumbent on Lukashenko to note the situation is different this time. Therefore, compromise is essential because the people of Belarus want a say in their future.

https://tass.com/world/1193549

PLEASE DONATE TO HELP MODERN TOKYO TIMES

Modern Tokyo News is part of the Modern Tokyo Times group

DONATIONS to SUPPORT MODERN TOKYO TIMES – please pay PayPal and DONATE to sawakoart@gmail.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com Modern Tokyo Times – International News and Japan News

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/moderntokyotimes/ Modern Tokyo Times is now on PINTEREST

http://sawakoart.com – Sawako Utsumi personal website and Modern Tokyo Times artist

https://moderntokyonews.com Modern Tokyo News – Tokyo News and International News

PLEASE JOIN ON TWITTER

https://twitter.com/MTT_News Modern Tokyo Times

PLEASE JOIN ON FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/moderntokyotimes