French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Vilnius on Monday, where Lithuanian leaders await his clear support against the regime in neighboring Belarus and Russian pressure, in the wake of further massive protests in Minsk.
To read also: Belarus: "It is clear that Lukashenko must leave", says Emmanuel Macron
Sunday, on the eve of a two-day tour in Lithuania and then in Latvia, Emmanuel Macron took a strong stand against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, supported by Vladimir Putin.
“
What is happening in Belarus is a crisis of power, an authoritarian power which cannot accept the logic of democracy and which hangs on by force.
It is clear that Lukashenko must leave,
”he declared to the
Journal du Dimanche
.
Both the European Union and the United States refuse to recognize the election of Mr. Lukashenko, considered fraudulent, and condemn the repression against opponents.
Belarusian police arrested another two hundred people on Sunday.
The French president has also “
not excluded
” meeting in Vilnius the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa, exiled in Lithuania.
Lithuanian writers, artists and scientists on Sunday called on the French president to support protesters in Belarus.
"
Men and women
" of Belarus "
are subjected to inhuman torture.
And this is happening in 21st century Europe!
“, Underline these artists and scientists, some of whom will have lunch on Tuesday with Emmanuel Macron.
This crisis should dominate the discussions of the French president on Monday with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, for her part, told Le Figaro that she "
expects a lot
" from the French president, who must "
speak louder
" and "get
involved to help us break the deadlock
".
France is calling for a peaceful transition for Belarus, taking into account the will of the population, "
avoiding the risk of greater repression, or even intervention by Russia,
" according to the Elysee.
Arm wrestling with Moscow
The Baltic States also expect from the French President firm support against pressure from Vladimir Putin, the crisis in Belarus turning into a standoff between the Western countries and Russia.
And this at a time when the poisoning of the Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny still increases the tensions between Moscow and the West.
"
Lithuanian leaders expect a firm reaction from Macron to Russia, but his dialogue with Vladimir Putin may raise questions,
" warned Vilnius University professor Ramunas Vilpisauskas.
“
I spoke to Vladimir Putin on September 14, the day he received Lukashenko in Sochi.
I told him that Russia has a role to play, and this role can be positive if it pushes Lukashenko to respect the truth of the ballot box and to release political prisoners.
It was two weeks ago, we are not there
”, commented the French president.
During his visit, "
Emmanuel Macron could play a role of mediator between Lukashenko and the opposition
", suggests Latvian political scientist Marcis Krastins.
In April 2018, Emmanuel Macron had received in Paris the presidents of the three Baltic States on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of their independence.
He then reaffirmed that France was at their "
side
", in particular "
within the framework of NATO
".
The Frenchman will also take advantage of his visit to meet NATO troops in the region, by going to the Lithuanian base in Rukla, where 300 French soldiers are stationed in an international NATO battalion.
A symbolic presence in the face of Russian forces.
