The main leader of Belarus’ embattled opposition has sought and apparently won US support for increasing pressure on her country’s authoritarian leader.
In meetings with senior US officials, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she had asked the Biden administration for “active and non-symbolic” measures to be taken in response to a massive crackdown on Belarus dissidents by president Alexander Lukashenko’s government.
In response, the White House said national security adviser Jake Sullivan pledged to hold the government accountable for its actions to quell massive protests against disputed elections last year, including through the imposition of new sanctions on the former Soviet republic.
Such an honor for me to be hosted at the @PressClubDC in Washington & be there with Myron Belkind. 🤍❤️🤍
I spoke on the crisis in Belarus & the critical situation with free media destroyed by Lukashenka's regime. Our journalists are punished for their work – telling the truth. pic.twitter.com/NZmASChcGw— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) July 20, 2021
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Ms Tsikhanouskaya told reporters: “We will discuss possible international efforts to isolate the regime politically and economically, to make it toxic and costly, including for Russia.
“We know, and we understand, that only Belarusians themselves can bring about democratic changes, but we hope for American active and non-symbolic participation.”
Ms Tsikhanouskaya was Mr Lukashenko’s main challenger in the August 2020 election and was forced to leave the country after the polls that the opposition and the west saw as rigged.
She was in Washington for meetings with senior administration officials and legislators.
Her visit came as authorities in Belarus continued a major crackdown on Mr Lukashenko’s opponents.
We call for an end to brazen attacks on journalists by the Belarus government. #PressFreedom @PressClubDC @NPCInstitute @pressfreedom https://t.co/twtTbtIrkW
— NPC President (@NPCPresident) July 20, 2021
Dozens of independent media outlets have been raided and journalists arrested along with civic leaders and human rights groups, prompting condemnations from US president Joe Biden and others.
“President Biden says that the world is struggling between autocracy and democracy, so the front line of the struggle is in Belarus at the moment,” Ms Tsikhanouskaya said.
“As a champion of democracy, the USA can get help get things done.”
Her message, delivered on Monday to US secretary of state Antony Blinken and on Tuesday to Mr Sullivan, was well received.
“Mr Sullivan conveyed American support for the people of Belarus and respect for the courage and determination of the opposition, including Mrs Tsikhanouskaya, in the struggle for democracy and human rights,” the White House said in a statement.
“The United States, together with partners and allies, will continue to hold the Lukashenko regime accountable for its actions, including through the imposition of sanctions.”
Months of protests rocked Belarus after Mr Lukashenko was elected to a sixth term in a vote in August 2020 that the opposition and the west denounced as severely flawed.
Belarusian authorities responded to opposition demonstrations with a massive crackdown, including police beating thousands of demonstrators and arresting more than 35,000 people.
Leading opposition figures have been jailed or forced to leave the country, while independent media outlets have had their offices searched and their journalists arrested.
The west has responded to the crackdown by imposing sanctions on Belarus.
The European Union and the US ramped up the restrictions in May after Belarus diverted a passenger jet to Minsk to arrest a dissident journalist.
The government in neighbouring Lithuania has accused Belarusian authorities of organising a flow of migrants from the Middle East and Africa in retaliation.
