Riga mayor promises Tsikhanouskaya resumed cooperation with Belarusian cities after democratic change

RIGA - When Belarus gets a democratic government not bent on conquering other countries, Riga will resume cooperation with the neighbor country's cities, Riga Mayor Martins Stakis said today during a meeting with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian democratic movement.

As LETA was told at the Riga City Hall's press office, during the meeting with the municipal officials Tsikhanouskaya expressed gratitude for the constant support Latvia and Riga have shown to Belarus' democratic movement. "I don't have words to fully express my gratitude to Latvia and Riga for the support shown already since 2020. We would not be so brave without your symbolic support - the raised flags, buildings lit up in Belarusian colors. This is significant because it made us feel that the world is with us and we matter," Tsikhanouskaya said. 

During thee Belarusian democratic leader's visit it was stressed that cultural exchange between Latvia's Belarusian community and Latvians should be stepped up and the Belarusian side expressed wish to take over public administration experience of Latvia and Riga in order to prepare a new generation Belarusian politicians and civil servants that would be ready to build and run a democratic Belarus. 

"Without a free Ukraine there cannot be a free Belarus. The ruling criminal regime of Belarus which, submitting to Russia's demands, has pulled its country into a bloody war, also realizes this. But I am sure that most Belarusians do not support it. If they supported it, the dictator in Minsk would have no need to rig election results. And he would not need to brutally oppress the protests of the supporters of a democratic Belarus," Stakis said after his meeting with Tsikhanouskaya.

The mayor reassured Tsikhanouskaya that Riga would very much like to resume cooperation with Belarusian cities.