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Timanovskaya and Johnson in London: The British Prime Minister condemned the persecution of pro-democratic actors by the ruler Lukashenko
Photo: Dan Kitwood / AP
Imprisoned opponents of the regime, beaten demonstrators, an alleged kidnapping attempt at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the forced landing of a plane with a blogger critical of the regime: anyone who opposes the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko is in danger.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now pledged support to the Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya at a meeting in London.
"We are very on your side and support you in what you do," said the prime minister at a meeting with the 38-year-old.
"We stand up for human rights and civil society in Belarus."
Johnson condemned Lukashenko's persecution of pro-democratic actors, citing the sanctions Britain had already imposed on the country.
There was initially no official statement from the British capital on the current cases of the alleged attempted kidnapping of Olympic sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya and the death of a Belarusian activist in Kiev.
"Even if I disappear one day, I know that this movement will continue without me"
In an interview with reporters in London, Tichanovskaya affirmed that she would continue to work for the future of her country.
"Even if I disappear one day, I know that this movement will continue without me," said the opposition party.
Many observers see the 38-year-old as the true winner of the Belarusian presidential election around a year ago.
After the vote of August 9, 2020, which was widely considered to be falsified, the EU no longer recognized Lukashenko as head of state.
For months there were mass protests with hundreds injured.
Security forces proceeded with all severity against the demonstrators.
Many people reported torture and ill-treatment.
In May, the forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Minsk made headlines.
In the course of the operation, the Belarusian authorities arrested the exiled government critic Roman Protassevich and his partner.
asc / dpa
