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Macron during his visit to Lithuania: His meeting with Tichanovskaya was seen as an important symbolic sign of support for the Belarusian opposition
Photo:
Mindaugas Kulbis / AP
Mass protests have been going on in Belarus for weeks.
The demonstrators are calling, among other things, for the resignation of ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
This is taking a hard hand against government critics, several opposition politicians have left the country, others are in custody.
French President Emmanuel Macron has now met with the Belarusian opposition activist Svetlana Tichanovskaya in Lithuania.
During the conversation, the French head of state offered to mediate in the political crisis in Belarus.
"As Europeans we will do our best to help with the mediation," Macron said after the meeting.
Macron said he would "do everything possible" to help mediate between the opposition and leadership in Belarus, Tichanovskaya said.
Macron also wants to campaign for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.
In an interview with the AFP news agency, she also announced a speech in front of the French parliament.
The half-hour conversation took place in a hotel in the capital Vilnius.
Tichanovskaya ran against President Lukashenko, who has ruled for 26 years, in the Belarusian presidential election in August, which was accompanied by massive allegations of fraud.
Shortly after the election, Tichanovskaya fled to neighboring Lithuania because of the violent action taken by the Belarusian security forces against members of the opposition.
According to official information, Lukashenko is said to have won the election with 80 percent of the vote.
The opposition accuses Lukashenko of massive electoral fraud - since the election there have been mass protests against the hard-handed head of state.
The EU does not recognize the election result either.
Despite national and international protests against the alleged election victory of the authoritarian head of state, Lukashenko recently had himself sworn in again as president.
Macron is currently on a two-day visit to Lithuania.
His meeting with Tichanovskaya was seen as an important symbolic sign of support for the Belarusian opposition.
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asc / dpa / AFP