Siliņa: 'The ruling regime of Belarus does not represent the people of Belarus'

Latvia will continue to support the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus and the opposition, and also strongly condemns the repressions against the people of Belarus by the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa emphasized during a meeting in Rīga on November 27 with President-elect and leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

The Prime Minister stated that Latvia continues to demand that all approximately 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus be released. 

"The ruling regime of Belarus does not represent the people of Belarus. We will continue to support the Belarusian democratic movement that aims for freedom. We demand the immediate cessation of repression and human rights violations," said Siliņa.

The Prime Minister assured Tsikhanouskaya that Latvia will provide practical assistance to support the efforts of the democratic opposition in Belarus by documenting human rights violations in Belarus. Also, Latvia will continue to be a safe place for Belarusian independent journalists.

The Prime Minister expressed her condemnation of the actions of Lukashenko's regime, which continues to operate a form of hybrid aggression on Latvia's external border by means of a state-sanctioned people smuggling operation.

Siliņa said that Latvia will continue to support the international isolation of the ruling regime of Belarus, as well as the strengthening of sanctions against it.

Speaking to LTV, Tsikhanouskaya compared the current situation in her country to the Stalinist period of the Soviet Union. She thanked Latvia for its support and urged the international community to continue to exert maximum pressure on the dictator Lukashenko.

Her visit continues November 28 and includes meetings with other officials including President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Rīga mayor Vilnis Ķirsis.

Flags of Latvia and free Belarus
Flags of Latvia and free Belarus

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