/nginx/o/2020/11/13/13473948t1h7ff7.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "Tikhanovsky: Without a free Belarus, there is no free Europe – in Latvia – News")
She noted that it had been three months since the historic protests in Belarus began. Cihanouska emphasized that there was a long way to go, during which the Belarusians learned who they were as people and paid a high price in their honor.
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Belarus’s opposition leader in the presidential election stressed that 18,000 people have so far been detained in post-election protests, thousands have been tortured and eight have been killed. In turn, 850 people have become suspects in politically motivated criminal cases and 120 have been recognized as political prisoners.
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“Unfortunately, the repression in Belarus is so great that these figures sound like dry statistics, but behind these figures are real people with real stories,” Tihanovska emphasized.
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She pointed out that the system protects itself, not that the impunity of nations and police officers encourages them to be more violent towards the population. Cihanouska noted that the protests were peaceful and the demands remained unchanged – the main goal is to achieve new, fair and free presidential elections with the participation of international observers by April next year.
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“The elections must precede constitutional reforms. Alexander Lukashenko should start talks for a peaceful change of power and resign. All political prisoners and detainees must be released and rehabilitated. Those who committed the crimes must be punished,” the Belarusian opposition leader said.
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Tikhanovsky stressed that the Belarusians are strong and brave, they were able to self-organize for democratic change in the country. She pointed out that the Belarusian people need the support of friends and international partners. According to the leader of the Belarusian opposition, the European Union should expand the list of sanctions to include companies that support the current regime.
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“I believe that the current crisis can be resolved internally, in Belarus. We have come a long way and Belarus will be free,” Tihanovska concluded.
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