Washington: Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the leader of the main opposition Belarus as the United States started criticism against the government in Minsk for expanding crackdown in the election disputed last year.
Blinken met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday to show support for him and other protesters demanding the purpose of oppression.
Tsikhanouskaya was the main challenger of President Alexander Lukashenko in the election of August 2020 and was forced to leave the country after the poll that the opposition and the West saw as a cheat.
“They discussed ongoing repression, the actions by the Lukashenko regime and the steps we have said, and many international communities say, that the Lukashenko regime must take,” Ned Price’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said to reporters.
“As you know, MS Tsikhanouskaya has been at the forefront of the opposition movement in Belarus, and we are happy to welcome it to the department today and to continue our efforts to stand up with their Belarusians and their aspirations for human rights, democracy, and euro aspirations Wider Atlantic, “he said.
Tsikhanouskaya was in Washington this week met with Biden administration officials and parliamentarians to seek their support.
Monday’s meeting came after the authority in Belarus spread last week’s oppression by robbing houses and offices of dozens of independent media outlets and civil leaders, encouraging criticism by the United States and European countries.
The country’s main security agency, which is still running under the name of the Soviet era KGB, said that the targeted was allegedly involved in “extremist activities”.
“The ongoing crackdown in journalists and civil society is the latest brutality of the Lukashenka regime,” said the price on Friday.
“We called Belarusian authorities to release their 550-plus political prisoners and were involved in dialogue with opposition and civil society.
We stand with Belarus people.” Lukashenko, the old Belarus authoritarian leader, has promised to “handle” the organization that he accused the riots in after the election and months of protest against his government.
Lukashenko proclaimed Victor, strengthening the sixth term in the office, even though there were extensive complaints that the voting was not free or fair.
Authorities responded to demonstrations with great harsh acts, including police who beat thousands of demonstrators and arrested more than 35,000 people.
Overall, 32 Belarusian journalists were detained, both serving their punishment or waiting for the trial, according to the Association of Belarusian journalists.