Belarusian opponent in exile Svetlana Tikhanovskaya will plead this Wednesday in Paris for the organization of an international conference to put pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, accused of carrying out a fierce crackdown on his critics after a highly contested re-election.
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"
We must put more pressure on him, organize a conference at the highest level between regional, European and international actors to resolve the
Belarusian
crisis,
" said the leader of the opposition in a column to the French weekly
Le Journal du Sunday
(JDD). "
It is essential that nations as powerful as France commit to protect democracy,
" she added, adding that she would meet "
this week
" with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The French presidency, questioned by AFP, did not immediately confirm the interview or its date.
The opponent is expected Wednesday in Paris, according to a French diplomatic source.
"
France can use its voice in the United Nations, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Council to make Belarus a priority,
" insisted Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa.
Emmanuel Macron was the first head of state to meet the opponent in September 2020 in Lithuania, a month after the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko.
American and European sanctions
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has since toured the major Western capitals, which deem the election "
fraudulent
", including Washington where she was received by President Joe Biden on July 27. She calls for more mobilization of the international community against Alexander Loukachenko, also supported by Moscow, so that he stops his repression and begins a dialogue with the opposition.
The United States announced another round of sanctions against Belarusian figures, companies and entities in August, a year-to-day day after President Lukashenko's re-election was contested for weeks in harshly suppressed protests.
The EU also adopted sanctions and in July said it was considering further measures.
Its blacklist for Belarus has 166 people, including President Lukashenko and two of his sons.
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Europeans also suspect Alexander Lukashenko of encouraging migrants to cross the border of his country with those of the EU (Lithuania, Latvia and Poland) in retaliation for the sanctions taken against him. Thousands of migrants have crossed or attempted to cross the border in recent months, an unprecedented influx for the region.