Nota Farnesina – SS Scalfarotto on Belarus

“The images that come to us from Belarus arouse strong feelings of indignation and concern in the consciences of the democrats,” Foreign Undersecretary Ivan Scalfarotto stated. “Seeing peaceful and defenceless citizens raided by security forces reminds us of a time, that of totalitarianism, which Europeans thought they had left behind forever. These violent methods of repression of dissent do not belong to the Europe of the 21st century,” Scalfarotto continued, assuring the Italian government’s commitment that “in coordination with the European Union and Member States, we make clear to the Belarusian authorities our firm expectation that all political detainees will be freed immediately, that the violent repression and persecution of peaceful demonstrators will be ended immediately, and that the dialogue between all Belarusian political forces will begin”.