Alyaksandr Milinkevich calls on opposition to shift to specific proposals

Former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich has called on the Belarusian opposition to adopt new approaches to their activities. It is time to shift from the language of statements to the language of specific proposals, Mr. Milinkevich, who heads the For Freedom Movement, said at a news conference in Minsk on May 8.

"We should understand that the situation has changed so much that the old system of the opposition’s activities is no go any more," he said.

"Previously, we collected data on human rights abuses and informed European institutions of them, prompting the European Union to make harsh statements about the undemocratic situation in Belarus," he said, noting that the opposition should now focus on developing specific proposals for the international community.

Mr. Milinkevich urged the opposition to do away with "political infantilism".

"We can become full-fledged participants in the political process," he said. "We should offer Europe specific technologies that will help make the situation in Belarus more democratic and increase the efficiency of the EU’s policy regarding Belarus."