Belarus opposition leader calls for further sanctions, a year after contested election
Record ID:
1631455
Belarus opposition leader calls for further sanctions, a year after contested election
- Title: Belarus opposition leader calls for further sanctions, a year after contested election
- Date: 9th August 2021
- Summary: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (AUGUST 9, 2021) (REUTERS) BELARUS OPPOSITION LEADER, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE WITH LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GABRIELIUS LANDSBERGIS TSIKHANOUSKAYA AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELARUS OPPOSITION LEADER, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, SAYING: "Now when regime is not ready to change their behaviour, I think that a new wave of sanction measures has, have to be imposed on the regime (of President Alexander Lukashenko), because they don't understand other language. And looking back into our history on the sanctions, it just succeeded to change the behaviour of Lukashenko. We understand that sanctions are not silver bullet, but they will help to stop repressions, to release political prisoners, we are sure in this. But I have to underline that sanctions should be joined. Sanctions should be imposed by all the democratic countries - the USA, UK, Canada, European Union and others. Only in, in this joint position sanctions will be powerful." REPORTERS SITTING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELARUS OPPOSITION LEADER, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, SAYING: "No dealing with this regime. It is impossible to talk to an illegitimate president who keeps power only thanks to violence and tortures and repressions. If you need to talk to somebody, there are representatives in Belarus who you can deal with, but not with, you know, criminals." TSIKHANOUSKAYA AND LANDSBERGIS LEAVING EXTERIOR OF LITHUANIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS STATUE DRESSED IN WHITE-RED-WHITE FLAG
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2021 11:54
- Keywords: Belarus Belarus election Belarus opposition Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Lithuania
- Location: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
- City: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
- Country: Belarus
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EPK6NGN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Monday (August 9) urged democratic countries to impose a new wave of sanctions against Belarus.
"We understand that sanctions are not silver bullet, but they will help to stop repressions, to release political prisoners, we are sure of this," Tsikhanouskaya said during a news conference in Vilnius on the first anniversary of an election which opponents said was rigged so that President Alexander Lukashenko could extend his long rule.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in 2020 in the biggest challenge to Lukashenko's rule since he became president in 1994. He responded with a crackdown on opponents in which many have been arrested or gone into exile abroad.
The Belarusian opposition says there are now more than 600 political prisoners in jail.
Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania after the crackdown, told reporters that it was "impossible" to talk to Lukashenko, saying there should not be any dealings with the regime.
(Production: Janis Laizans, Karolina Bohacova) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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