Belarus (bbabo.net), - Estonian President Alar Karis held a meeting in Tallinn with the head of the Belarusian non-systemic opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, writes err.ee.
“We support the aspiration of the Belarusian opposition and the people for a free, democratic state. Thousands of people paid with their freedom in the struggle for democracy, thousands of families were torn apart. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko must be held accountable for the suffering and humiliation inflicted on his people. And everyone who supports him today has a personal responsibility, ”Karis said at a meeting with Tikhanovskaya, which took place at the residence of the head of the Estonian state, Kadriorg.
Karis also emphasized "the EU's readiness to put increasing pressure on the Lukashenka regime through political isolation and tougher sanctions so that the Belarusian authorities stop supporting Russia in its aggressive war against Ukraine."
Tikhanovskaya also spoke to the deputies of the Estonian parliament and met with its speaker Juri Ratas.
“The tireless efforts to raise world awareness of the repression in Belarus are admirable,” the speaker said. He stated that Belarusians want changes in their country. “As soon as Belarus becomes a free and democratic country, the current regime will have to bear responsibility for gross violations of human rights,” Ratas stressed.
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said that "the Belarusian authorities are accomplices in the brutal war between Russia and Ukraine that has been going on for more than six months."
“The Russian army uses Belarusian ammunition, spare parts and territory to attack Ukraine from the air, which makes Lukashenka and the leadership of Belarus accomplices in the war,” the minister said.
Reinsalu stressed that “decisions should be made at the EU level that put pressure on the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, primarily through political isolation and more severe sanctions.” At the same time, the Estonian Foreign Ministry called on fellow citizens to write letters to Lukashenko's opponents who are in prison.
“After the presidential elections, the results of which are still not recognized at the international level, all civil society, the media, the political opposition and trade unions of Belarus fell silent. Belarusians were deprived of freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly. Anyone who dared to express an opinion that did not suit the government was put in jail. Unfortunately, people are being detained for expressing opinions on social media, for sticking a white sheet of paper on a window, and for independent journalism. The people of Estonia remember what it was like to live under such a regime. We call on the people of Estonia to write a letter to the political prisoner in Belarus so that he knows that he is not alone. We see and notice what is happening - and everything will be all right. They are not alone in their efforts,” said Jonatan Vseviov, Chancellor of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
bbabo.ℵet