Britain sided with the leader of the Belarusian opposition and tried to overthrow the authoritarian regime led by Alexander Lukashenko. Boris Johnson Say.
The Prime Minister fully supports Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is at the forefront of the restoration of democracy despite the suppression of civil societies in Eastern European countries.
Tsihanouskaya was received in Downing Street after a few hours after the head of the organization that helped the Belarusians escape the persecution Was found dead in a park in KievJohnson said that Britain supports Qihanusskaya’s struggle against serious violations of human rights and persecution of democratic activists.
“We are very supportive of you, very supportive of what you are doing. We are committed to supporting human rights and civil society Belarus,” he told her on Tuesday.
Qihanusskaya emphasized the power of Johnson’s support for the statement, saying that “it is very important to understand that one of the most powerful countries in the world is supporting Belarus.”
The Prime Minister replied: “We strongly support you, strongly support Belarus, the people of Belarus.”
He also emphasized the speed at which Britain announced sanctions against Belarus after it “hijacked” an aircraft carrying another famous anti-Lukashenko organizer. Raman Platasevich, Who was detained by national authorities End of may After a Ryanair flight was forced to land in Belarus.
In a subsequent private meeting on the 10th, Johnson told Qihanusskaya that the British and Belarusians “share basic values, such as belief in democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” and that the British “ Unite “the people of Belarus and will continue to take action to support them”.
In view of the death of Vitaly Shishov, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Ukraine and Belarus, the importance of Johnson’s support for the leader of the Belarusian opposition has become even more prominent. On Monday, Shishov was reported missing by his partner because he had not returned from the run and could not be reached by mobile phone. The police said in a statement that he was found hanged in a park not far from where he lived, and they have launched a murder investigation.
It also follows recent efforts Belarus Olympic athlete Christina Zimanusskaya Seek asylumAfter she was threatened to be deported to Minsk for criticizing Belarusian Olympic team officials, she obtained a humanitarian visa from Poland.
Outside on the 10th, Qihanusskaya told reporters that it is too early to comment on Shisov’s death, but said she will not fight for free and fair elections in Belarus.
“I understand you know that I can disappear at any time,” she said. “I understand this, but I should do what I am doing. I can’t stop because I feel responsible for the future of my country, just like all Belarusians feel that they are fighting against the government and feel their Responsibility.
“But I know that even if one day I disappear, this movement will continue without me.”
The British government is expected to issue further announcements in the summer as it exerts pressure on Belarus Contain recent attacks Rights groups, media organizations, charities and other non-governmental organizations. Lukashenko even tried to eliminate the non-political efforts of Belarusians to organize themselves.
The Viasna Center for Human Rights recently stated that raids and arbitrary arrests are “just another example of the suppression of human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and independent media since the widely disputed presidential election in August 2020, when thousands of Belarusians took to the streets mainly in peaceful protests.”
