Tsikhanouskaya: Belarusians are facing Russian aggression and imperialism

2024-03-25 20:42:43, Kosova & Bota CNA

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on her countrymen to stand up and defend their country's independence in light of what she said was "Russian aggression and imperialism". Her comments come as Belarusians mark Freedom Day in honor of the anniversary of the short-lived Belarusian People's Republic, which lasted less than a year in 1918.

"We have faced Russian aggression and imperialism and we must stand strong in support of the independence of our state," Tsikhanouskaya said during an interview in Prague on March 25 for the Belarusian Service of Radio Free Europe.

"We must continue with integrity and dignity the work started by our predecessors. It is imperative that this war does not last indefinitely, allowing our generation to maintain our independence and sovereignty," she said.

Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka, in power since 1994, is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed the use of Belarusian territory and military instillations for the Russian occupation of Ukraine.

Russia and Belarus in 1999 also created the so-called Union State, a supranational body made up of the two states, with the stated intention of eventually uniting the two states. However, Lukashenka has postponed the full implementation of this agreement.

Lukashenka claims to have won a sixth term in the August 2020 election. While official results gave Lukashenka victory, the opposition and many Western governments and organizations said the vote was rigged and that Tsikhanouskaya, who ran for president after taking over from her husband her after his arrest, had actually won the election.

Her husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, was arrested before the election to prevent him from registering as a candidate. He was sentenced in 2021 to 18 years in prison for inciting mass riots, inciting social hatred, obstructing the activities of the Central Election Commission and organizing activities to obstruct social order. He and his supporters have rejected all these accusations and described them as politically motivated.

After the election, Lukashenka cracked down heavily on dissidents and civil society, arresting hundreds of people and forcing most of the state's opposition figures, including Tsikhanouskayan, to leave the country out of fear for their safety and freedom.

Tsikhanouskaya also expressed strong support for Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who died on February 16 in a Russian prison in the Arctic under suspicious circumstances. Navalnaya has vowed to continue her husband's work.

"I understand that we have a lot in common. My husband is a political prisoner and Yulia has experienced a tragedy," said Tsikhanouskaya.

"She is an extremely strong woman and I hope that she can unite the people around her, especially the opposition, so that she does not lose contact with the Russians and is able to show them that she works for them first and foremost." she added.

Tsikhanouskaya said it would be vital for the Russian opposition to make clear that they would "give up their imperialist ambitions, respect our borders and support our European aspirations", adding that she believes Navalnaya "has the potential to achieve this, supported by a powerful team, but essential for him is to create connections with the people"./ REL