Washington, Jul 20 (AP): Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Belarus’ fundamental opposition chief as america steps up criticism of the federal government in Minsk for a widening crackdown on dissent following disputed elections final yr.
Blinken met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the State Division on Monday to indicate assist for her and different protesters demanding an finish to repression. Tsikhanouskaya was President Alexander Lukashenko’s fundamental challenger within the August 2020 election and was compelled to depart the nation after the polls that the opposition and the West noticed as rigged.
“They mentioned the continued repression, the crackdown by the Lukashenko regime and the steps that we have now stated, and far of the worldwide neighborhood has stated, that the Lukashenko regime should take,” State Division spokesperson Ned Value instructed reporters.
“As you realize, Ms Tsikhanouskaya has been on the forefront of the opposition motion in Belarus, and we have been joyful to welcome her to the division right this moment and to proceed our efforts to face with the Belarusian folks and their aspirations for human rights, democracy, and their broader Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” he stated.
Tsikhanouskaya is in Washington this week assembly with Biden administration officers and lawmakers to hunt their backing.
Monday’s assembly got here after authorities in Belarus widened the crackdown final week by raiding the properties and workplaces of dozens of unbiased media shops and civic leaders, prompting condemnations by america and European nations. The nation’s fundamental safety company, which nonetheless goes beneath its Soviet-era identify KGB, stated these focused have been suspected of involvement in “extremist actions”.
“The continuing crackdown on journalists and civil society is the Lukashenka regime’s newest brutality,” Value stated on Friday. “We name on the Belarusian authorities to launch their 550-plus political prisoners and have interaction in a dialogue with the opposition and civil society. We stand with the folks of Belarus.” Lukashenko, the longtime authoritarian chief of Belarus, has promised to “take care of” organisations that he accuses of fomenting unrest within the aftermath of the election and months of protests towards his rule. Lukashenko was proclaimed the victor, cementing a sixth time period in workplace, regardless of widespread complaints that the vote was neither free nor honest.
Authorities responded to the demonstrations with an enormous crackdown, together with police beating hundreds of demonstrators and arresting greater than 35,000 folks.
Total, 32 Belarusian journalists are in custody, both serving their sentences or awaiting trial, in response to the Belarusian Affiliation of Journalists. (AP) DIV DIV
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