Belarusian opposition in US demands ending IMF assistance to authorities in Minsk

Members of Belarusian opposition in the United States stage a protest action outside the IMF headquarters in Washington last Saturday to demand that the IMF stop giving financial assistance to the authorities in Minsk. Dozens of protesters wore masks depicting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. They held posters which said that the Belarusian authorities were using the IMF loans to control the Belarusian segment of the Internet, finance propaganda and the KGB. Several opposition organizations, including Belarusians in Exile, the Belarusian-American Association and the Chase alliance, organized a picket outside the IMF building. “We have common goals and one Motherland for the sake of which we should unite. We hope that the opposition in Belarus will follow our example,” Dmitry Shchigelsky, the leader of the Belarusians in Exile movement, told Itar-Tass. He described as destructive President Lukashenko’s economic model. “The country’s foreign debt grew manifold from 2007 to 2013 to exceed 34 billion dollars,” Shchigelsky said. The protesters addressed an open letter to IMF Managing Director Christian Laggard. They believe that the IMF should demand the implementation of the previously concluded agreements to reform the Belarusian economy prior to issuing new loans to the authorities in Minsk.