Estonian formin: More pressure must be put on Lukashenko regime

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the democratic opposition of Belarus, in Tallinn and expressed support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus, emphasizing that more pressure must be put on the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.

Tsahkna said that the Belarusian authorities have been complicit in Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, which has continued for more than a year now.

"The Russian army is using Belarusian ammunition, spare parts and territory for launching air raids against Ukraine, and more than 2,000 Ukrainian children have been taken by force to Belarus, which makes Lukashenko and the leadership of Belarus accomplices in the war,” he added.

Tsahkna underlined that decisions need to be taken at European Union level to exert pressure on the Lukashenko regime, mainly through political isolation and sanctions.

"The Lukashenko regime must not feel it has impunity," the minister said.

The foreign minister assured that Estonia would continue to support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian opposition and the civil society to make sure that violations of human rights and international law do not go unnoticed.

"The international community must continue to stand for the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus and holding the organizers of repressions accountable," he said.

After the presidential elections in Belarus, human rights violations have escalated. The Lukashenko regime currently has more than 1,500 political prisoners.