Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya says she is in constant contact with partners in the US and urges them not to pressure European Union (EU) countries to ease sanctions against Belarus.
“We are in constant communication with our American partners and urge them not to exert pressure on EU countries, primarily Lithuania, to lift European sanctions,” Tikhanovskaya said to reporters in the Seimas on Monday.
“Everyone understands that if, for example, sanctions on potash fertilizers are lifted, it will only strengthen the regime, providing more resources for repression and the war in Ukraine,” she noted.
She made this statement after US Special Envoy for Belarus John Cole last week urged Lithuania in an interview with LRT to resume the transit of Belarusian fertilizers and hold a high-level meeting with Minsk.
Tikhanovskaya calls on partners in Europe to be consistent and not to replicate President Donald Trump's policy towards authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.
According to her, the Americans imposed sanctions on Belarus for human rights violations and political prisoners, while the EU imposed sanctions on Minsk for its assistance to Russia in the war against Ukraine.
“President Trump has enough influence to help Belarusians free all political prisoners. However, we ask Europeans to save their strongest cards for more important steps, as the release of political prisoners is our priority, but our task is to free the entire country,” she said.
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