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Svetlana Tichanovskaya, opposition leader in exile
Photo:
Mindaugas Kulbis / dpa
At a meeting with Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, the Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya called on the US to support the democracy movement in her home country.
Urgent help is needed for the political prisoners and their families, for civil society, the private sector and the independent media, Tichanovskaya announced in Washington on Monday.
In addition, her Telegram channel published a picture of the encounter with Blinken.
In addition, the US would have to give Russia the signal that agreements with the ruler Alexander Lukashenko are not valid.
Russian President Vladimir Putin supports Lukashenko, who is regarded as “Europe's last dictator”, with loans, among other things.
Tichanovskaya claimed victory in the presidential election almost a year ago.
Lukashenko regime takes action against protests
The Belarusian authorities have been taking action against independent media and internet platforms for days.
Several Telegram channels were declared extremist on Monday.
Lukashenko had announced that he would take action against everyone who was against him.
Tichanovskaya has repeatedly condemned the repression.
At a rally in front of emigrated Belarusians in Washington, she said that the struggle for the freedom of the Belarusian people must continue.
She reports on her trip to the US in a "President's Diary" on YouTube.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed on Monday that Tichanovskaya would also have talks at government headquarters.
But she stressed that there are currently no plans to meet President Joe Biden.
mjm / dpa
