Katia Glod: Sanctions against Belarusian authorities must be greater and include all human rights violators

(Patria) – Belarusian authorities have issued a statement stating that 713 citizens were arrested during protests on Sunday, and warned that they might use live ammunition in the next ones.

The statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs also states that 570 of those arrested in the 'organized and very radical protests' are yet to appear in court.  

However, the government's repressive actions and threats so far have not discouraged the demonstrators, who gathered in even larger numbers on Monday to protest against the re-election of long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenko.  

Older generations also took to the streets of Minsk, carrying banners saying 'grandmothers are with the people'.

After the initial brutal crackdown on protests that have been ongoing since August 9, when the presidential election results were announced, during which thousands of citizens were arrested and allegedly mistreated in prisons, Belarusian authorities temporarily withdrew security forces - partly because the protests continued with the same intensity, but also due to Western intervention. However, on Sunday, the police again used force – water cannons, stun grenades, and arrests marked that day of protest.

Now, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also announcing the use of 'special equipment and combat weapons' if the protests continue.  

Although Lukashenko has threatened in a similar way before, this time it is more likely that he will be taken seriously, believes Katia Glod, a political consultant and former election observer for Belarus.

- People now believe what he says more than before; he is well-known as an emotional leader who uses words instead of tactics to intimidate, Glod explained to Euronews. She added that 'after violence like we haven't seen before, people are more concerned and believe that it is now more likely that he will carry out what he announces'.

Glod also claims that the EU's announcement of readiness to sanction Lukashenko himself was a 'mistake'.

- The escalation of violence we have been witnessing since August 9 clearly shows that the sanctions imposed by the EU, USA, Great Britain, and Canada have not produced the expected effect, explains Katia Glod, adding that 'sanctions must be significantly greater, and should apply to all officials responsible for human rights violations'.

She claims that sanctions should apply not only to Lukashenko and his inner circle but to all members of the security forces responsible for activities that have violated human rights in the past two months.  

Almost all opposition leaders are either in exile or in prison; the authorities have also canceled all accreditation for foreign media, thus preventing a more comprehensive coverage of the protests.