Pavel Latushka: Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Ambassador
The Lukashenko regime creates real threats for Latvia and the EU, including manufacturing a hybrid aggression crisis on the border through artificial migration, as well as increasing military threats, sabotage activities, and propaganda against Latvian society and state. It's important to note common cases of Russian citizens using Belarusian plates to bypass restrictions and enter Latvia.
We fully support stopping the transit of goods intended for trade across the EU-Belarus border to limit the movement of freight transport and stop sanctions circumvention. This sanctions evasion allows Lukashenko's regime to diversify income sources to aid the aggressor and contribute to prolonging the war of aggression. We have witnessed such measures effectively pressure the Lukashenko regime.
However, we once again convey that restricting mobility and movement of people is inappropriate. It's important to maintain contacts between the Belarusian community expelled from their country and those remaining inside Belarus.
Disrupting passenger traffic enables propaganda undermining EU policy toward Belarus by portraying Europe as isolating Belarusians rather than Lukashenko's regime. The NAU believes it's necessary to demonstrate restrictions target the criminal regime, not people. We also believe exiled Belarusians deserve preferential vehicle re-registration.
We call on Latvia's government to reconsider this decision's impact on Belarusian citizens. We appeal to Poland and Lithuania to refrain from measures primarily affecting society over Lukashenko.
During a recent UTC meeting, Poland's Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Duszczyk said Poland currently lacks information on such approaches and hasn't made decisions about Belarusian plates. But if considered, Poland will aim to separate regime from citizens and provide advance notice.
We urge the Latvian government to reconsider this decision in the context of restrictive measures applied directly to Belarusian citizens. We also appeal to the authorities of Poland and Lithuania to refrain from such measures, which primarily affect Belarusian society rather than Lukashenko's regime.
Today, during a meeting with the United Transitional Cabinet members, Poland's Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Duszczyk addressed the current situation, noting that Poland presently lacks information on such approaches and has not made any decisions of this kind. However, if these issues are considered, Poland will make efforts to distinguish between the regime and the Belarusian people. Poland is prepared to provide advance notice before adopting any such decisions affecting Belarusians.
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