No country is immune from dictatorship, Bulgarian premier tells Cichanoŭskaja
![](https://pozirk.online/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tikhanouskaia-denkov.jpg)
March 5, Pozirk. “Belarus is an example of how democratic rules can be violated in a highly developed European country, resulting in the establishment of a dictatorship that does not allow an opposition democratic movement to develop,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov told Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja at a meeting today.
“If you have an opinion that differs from that of the government, the choice is between going to jail or leaving the country,” the Bulgarian prime minister said, according to Dariknews.
In his opinion, no country is immune from it, and “the only insurance” is to follow democratic rules and limit the powers of presidents.
“History shows that the temptation to switch to a dictatorial regime is extremely strong,” Denkov stressed.
“We are facing occupation,” Cichanoŭskaja said. “In Ukraine we are fighting against Russian missiles, and in Belarus we are fighting against the hijacking of our institutions.” Russia is “trying to destroy our people,” she said, calling on the Bulgarian government and people to support Belarus “in the fight against Russian ambitions.”
“The Belarusian regime is linked to Putin. As long as the Belarusians support the Ukrainians, we are not alone in our struggle,” the opposition leader said.
The meeting was also attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel, who “strongly condemned Belarus’ complicity in Russian atrocities.”
“We condemn Minsk’s role as Russia’s accomplice. We must be vigilant about sanctions evasion. We support the European aspirations of the Belarusian people. Bulgaria clearly and consistently supports these efforts,” the foreign minister said.
The Bulgarian portal offnews reported that today Cichanoŭskaja also met with GERB leader Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria’s former prime minister. He said that Sofia strongly supports “all the legitimate aspirations of the Belarusian people to build a democratic state based on the rule of law and fundamental human rights, to choose their representatives through real, democratic and transparent elections.”
Bulgaria, he said, will back all European Union initiatives “aimed at supporting Belarusian civil society.” The EU will permanently support democratic transition, economic stabilization and institutional reforms for Belarus in the interest of its citizens and “a democratic, prosperous and peaceful Europe,” Borisov said.
According to him, the group of Friends of Democratic Belarus will be created in the Bulgarian parliament.
Cichanoŭskaja is visiting Bulgaria on March 4-6. It is her first official visit to the country. She and Denkov had met in August 2023.
- PoliticsIllegal Belarus-Lithuania crossings surge in SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityMonitoring group records at least eight Shahed incursions into BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka to meet Brazil's president at BRICS summit in RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Opposition leader calls for release of Japanese national arrested in Belarus
- Reprisals target solidarity, 2020 protestersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityIllegal migration at Belarus-EU border up 35 percent since early AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, Politics
Analyst: Wiktorin ideal figure to seek compromise between Belarus, EU
- Economy
Lithuania seizes €10m worth of smuggled cigarettes in H1
- Germany news, Politics
German diplomat Andrea Wiktorin back to work in Minsk
- SecurityMinsk responds with protest to Tokyo’s protest against scathing TV reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights defenders label 19 as former political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian diplomat meets with officials in Baku days after parliamentary voteThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk accredits Saudi Arabia’s military attaché to RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
Rubel down against US dollar, euro, yuan at BCSE
- Cichanoŭskaja grateful to Sweden’s outgoing FM for support of democracy in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security
Warsaw judge orders arrests of three Belarusians over 2021 Ryanair forced landing
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign exchange reserves up 1.9 percent in AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyNew car sales soar in Belarus in AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: two dissidents face prison term extensionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
KGB charges Japanese national with spying, Tokyo files protest
- Politics
Georgia denies asylum to Belarusian dissident
- Politics, SecurityPoland extends buffer zone at Belarus border by 90 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuania slams "KGB-orchestrated" acts of vandalism against Belarusian communityThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights defenders identified seven released on latest pardonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLatvian lawmakers discuss bill banning Belarus-registered vehiclesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsExiled politician says he appealed to document lawlessnessThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyEx-deputy energy minister given six years in prison for allegedly taking bribesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
Rubel down against US dollar, yuan at BCSE
- Economy, PoliticsMinsk set to boost cooperation with China's provinces – ŁukašenkaThe material is available only to POZIRK+