With the sanctions against Belarus, it is crucial that economic sanctions are also taken. That is what outgoing Prime Minister Rutte said after a meeting in The Hague between him and Minister Kaag with Belarusian opposition leader Tikhanovskaya. According to him, economic sanctions will also affect state-owned companies, but individual citizens should be avoided as much as possible.
Rutte added that the countries of the EU agree that President Lukashenko must be dealt with harshly.
Direct reason for the reception of Tikhanovskaya. was the arrest of journalist and activist Roman Protasevich. To the fury of many world leaders, he was arrested in the Belarusian capital Minsk last weekend after the plane he was on was diverted there under Belarusian pressure. According to the Belarusian authorities, there was a bomb threat. The EU has already announced new sanctions On. The word ‘state hijacking’ was used.
New elections
Rutte expressed his appreciation for Tikhanovskaya’s efforts. He hopes that the two can also meet in Minsk one day.
Tikhanovskaya fled her country shortly after the elections last year and she is in exile in Lithuania. The elections were officially won by Lukashenko, but Tikhanovskaya claims victory. She said yesterday that not enough has been done so far to stop the Belarusian regime and that more pressure should be put on President Lukashenko. She repeated that today.
Tikhanovskaya thanked Rutte for his “firm” response to the developments in her country. It was the second time that she was received by him in The Hague. She underlined that the Lukashenko government must resign and that new elections must be held. The opposition leader stressed that the general situation in Belarus cannot be separated from the events with the plane.
The opposition leader also speaks with the House of Representatives.
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