Over the weekend, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei accused Western countries of attempting to sow “chaos and anarchy” in the former Soviet republic, which has been rocked by street protests since an election last month.
In a video statement to the United Nations General Assembly, Makei warned that “interference in our internal affairs, sanctions, and other restrictions on Belarus will have the opposite effect, and are harmful for absolutely everyone.”
The United States, Britain, and Canada are expected to impose sanctions soon on Belarusian individuals over what those governments view as a rigged election and violence against peaceful protesters, sources have told Reuters.
More than 12,000 people have been arrested since President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the landslide winner of an Aug. 9 election widely viewed as fraudulent.
Polish support for democractic reforms in Belarus was on full display during the “Solidarity with Belarus” concert at the National Stadium in Warsaw over the weekend. Krzysztof Cugowski, Michał Szpak, and Golec uOrkiestra, were among the well-known performers which took to the stage on Saturday night.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki recalled the birth of the Solidarity movement and Poland’s own struggles to “say no to those who violated human rights, civil rights, and trampled freedom…today, the Belarusian people are fighting for their freedom, and we want to stand by their side while they go down this rough road.”
Morawiecki has said he will unveil a plan for wide-ranging international economic assistance to Belarus at a meeting of European Union leaders later this month. According to reports by the Polish Press Agency, the plan includes opening the EU to Belarusian entrepreneurs and a push for some 1 billion euro in financial assistance.
Recent increases in coronavirus infections in Poland, and particularly in Pomerania, should be considered as a second wave of the pandemic, according to one Pomeranian doctor.
In an interview yesterday with Radio Gdańsk, Dr. Jerzy Karpiński claimed the rising number of cases were due to several factors, including the approaching flu season, the return of local residents from holidays elsewhere, and the increased number of workers coming to Pomerania from other parts of Poland.
Over the weekend, the number of poviats in Poland subject to additional restrictions due to rising infection rates increased from 11 to 21 — five of those in Pomerania. The city of Sopot as well as the districts of Kościerzyna, Puck, Wejherowo, Nowodworski and Słupsk are currently in the “yellow warning” zone for restrictions, while the district of Kartuzy is one of only two poviats in Poland currently in the “red” zone.
Yellow zone restrictions reduce the number of people allowed in areas like gyms and cinemas and at events like birthday parties and weddings. For red zones, gatherings like fairs and conferences are banned, along with the operation of sanatoriums and amusement parks. Churches and other places of worship are limited to 50% occupancy and family celebrations, including weddings, are limited to 50 participants.
As of yesterday, 87, 330 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Poland since the beginning of the pandemic, and 2,432 have died.
Poland’s Jan Błachowicz has won the champion’s belt in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the top level forum for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
The 37-year-old from Cieszyn became the new UFC men’s light heavyweight king when he trounced Dominick Reyes in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday morning. The victory makes Błachowicz the second Polish-born UFC champion in history, after Joanna Jęddrzejczyk won the first-ever UFC champion belt in 2015.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski is on the shortlist for the 2019/2020 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, a major European football honor.
The list also includes Belgian striker Kevin De Bruyne and German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The winner will be named by European football’s governing body during its 2020/2021 Champions League draw ceremony in Nyon, Switzerland on October 1.
Weather
Monday will be partly cloudy and cool, with a light breeze coming in from the southeast and very little chance of rain. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday with a high of 17°C (63°F) and an overnight low of 10°C (50°F). Sunnier skies and similar temperatures will continue throughout the week, with some clouds and rain expected again next weekend.
Elizabeth Peck/ako
