MINSK, 8 February (BelTA) - Belarus needs to introduce criminal liability for people who call for sanctions against the country, Chairman of Belteleradiocompany Ivan Eismont told the Editors' Club program on the Belarus 1 TV channel on 6 February, BelTA learned.
Director – Editor-in-Chief of the Belarus Segodnya publishing house Dmitry Zhuk noted that patriots among the opposition and patriots among pro-government citizens abroad act similarly: they defend the interests of their native country. Yet, there are some people from among the opposition members who, living abroad, all for sanctions and the overthrow of the state system.
"We just need to criminalize calls for sanctions against business, the country," Ivan Eismont replied.
Ph.D. in History Vadim Gigin, Dean of the Philosophy and Social Sciences Faculty of Belarusian State University, gave the example of the United States of America. He noted that supporters of different political forces can insult each other, use foul language against the authorities but will never call to impose sanctions against the United States or to relocate sporting events from the country. "Such people would have been marginalized immediately, both on the official and unofficial levels," he said.
Ivan Eismont also lamented that there are few constructive people from among the members of the Belarusian opposition with whom it is possible to engage in dialogue. According to him, TV channels are often reproached for not inviting government opponents. “But we did, we invited. But what can we talk about with them if for 15 years they would want only one thing of the government: to step down. Where to find the people with whom we can talk, the people who would engage in political struggle but be constructive?” he wondered.
