- On August 9, when the struggle for freedom of Belarus started a year ago, the United States, Great Britain, and Canada introduced new sanctions against the Lukashenko regime.
In an official statement on sanctions, US President Joe Biden noted that “the Belarusian regime’s harmful activities and long-standing abuses aimed at suppressing democracy and the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus — including illicit and oppressive activities stemming from the August 9, 2020, fraudulent Belarusian presidential election and its aftermath, such as the elimination of political opposition and civil society organizations and the regime’s disruption and endangering of international civil air travel — constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.
Announcing a new package of trade, financial, and aviation sanctions, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab emphasized: “The Lukashenko regime continues to crush democracy and violate human rights in Belarus. These sanctions demonstrate that the UK will not accept Lukashenko’s actions since the fraudulent election. The products of Lukashenko’s state-owned industries will not be sold in the UK, and our aerospace companies will not touch his fleet of luxury aircraft”.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau said: “Canada has stood with our international partners in applying pressure on those responsible for continued human rights violations. The measures announced today show that Canada will not relent in ending impunity for human rights abusers”.
- On this day, world politicians expressed support for the Belarusian people, who have been fighting for freedom in their country for a year now.
President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda tweeted: “A year has passed since Belarusian people have risen for their freedom. Belarus regime responded with violence & repressions. Thousands of people were detained, tortured or forced to leave. But freedom is invincible. The past will not return. Belarus will be free! Жыве Беларусь!”.
President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputova tweeted: “A year ago, many people in Belarus chose democracy and freedom over corruption and authoritarianism. My thoughts today are with all those persecuted for simply demanding their constitutional rights are respected”.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tweeted: “A year has passed today since the rigged presidential election in Belarus. The Belarusian society was deprived of its chance for freedom and democracy. Belarusians showed, however, that the fight for these values continues. Let us remember this and support them in solidarity in their pursuit of freedom”.
Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas tweeted: “Dear people of Belarus! Estonia stands in solidarity with you and admires your peaceful resolve. A year after the fraudulent August elections in Belarus, we commemorate all the victims who have suffered from the regime in Minsk”.
President of the European Council Charles Michel tweeted: “One year ago today, the right to freely elect their leader was taken away from the people of Belarus. EU stands firmly with you and will continue to do so. The legitimate call for a democratic future and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights must finally be heeded”.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell tweeted: “On 9 August last year Belarusians went to the polls to vote for democracy. Since then they have stood up for those values against Lukashenko regime’s brutal repression. Voices of the people of Belarus will not be silenced!”.
Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen tweeted: “A year ago Belarusian people were deprived of the right for fair and democratic elections. Hundreds of thousands protested against self-proclaimed winner of fraudulent elections. Today and every day we stand with Belarus. And firmly believe that it will be democratic and free”.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas said: “Germany and the European Union, therefore, support the people in Belarus who are fighting for the respect for basic democratic and human rights values. We will not allow them to be silenced. In addition to political support, we have therefore put in place practical help with our “Belarus Civil Society Action Plan” to support people who are politically persecuted”.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken tweeted: “One year ago today, the Belarusian people went to the polls to make their voices heard. Instead, the regime responded with a brutal crackdown. Today, we hold the Lukashenka regime to account with new tools and the most robust sanctions package to date”.
Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde tweeted: “Today, ahead of the anniversary of the falsified presidential election, we stood in solidarity with the Belarusian people and their right to choose their own leaders. Crucial to stand up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Belarus”.
Foreign Minister of Denmark Jeppe Kofod tweeted: “Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the stolen election in Belarus. Denmark stands unwaveringly with the Belarusian people’s call for freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Their legitimate rights must be respected”.
Ireland's Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne tweeted: “One year ago, the people of Belarus stood clearly for democracy. Ireland and our EU partners continue to redouble our efforts to sanction the Lukashenka regime and to support the people of Belarus in their fight for a fair and just destiny”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation of Iceland Guðlaugur Þór tweeted: “A year ago the people of Belarus were denied free and fair elections. Their peaceful resistance in the face of repression and human rights abuses has been remarkable. Iceland continues to take an active stand for freedom and democracy in Belarus”.
Foreign Minister of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs tweeted: “A year ago Belarusians were deprived of free and fair presidential elections. Their will was ignored and hopes were crashed by Lukashenko regime. Today we stand with Belarus for sovereign, free and democratic Belarus and we know that dream will come true”.
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korcok tweeted: “On this day we remember anniversary of the forged presidential election in Belarus. Slovakia will continue its assistance & support to the persecuted citizens of Belarus on their path to freedom. We call on the Belarusian authorities to put an immediate end to the persecution of their citizens”.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian tweeted: “One year after the election of August 9, 2020, France is fully mobilized alongside the Belarusian people, for the end of the repression and inclusive political dialogue. European Union is united around this demand”.
Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek tweeted: “Today marks one year since the election in Belarus was stolen by Lukashenko. We stand with the people of Belarus who were robbed of their right to choose their leaders. Lukashenko should stop being afraid of his own people, release all political prisoners and end repression”.
Austrian Foreign Ministry tweeted: “A year ago, the Belarusian people were robbed of their right to freely elect their legitimate political leader. Austria will continue to stand in solidarity with all those fighting for democratic principles and human rights in Belarus. Our thoughts today are with the political prisoners, activists, journalists, students and all other civil society representatives repressed by the regime. Together, we will strive for a free, democratic and prosperous”.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain tweeted: “Spain stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus. We support the statement by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security”.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted: “Today marks 1 year since the flawed elections in Belarus. Peaceful protests met with crackdown unprecedented in modern Europe. Admire the courage & endurance of the democratic forces. Will discuss free Belarus with Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya in Oslo this week”.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland stated: ‘Poland will continue its support for Belarusian society and efforts to find a peaceful way to end the crisis. We will also consistently support the sovereignty and stability of Belarus and all those who are persecuted and threatened with repression”.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia tweeted: “On the anniversary of the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus, Slovenia regrets that democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus have been continuously ignored and repressed by the regime”.
Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski tweeted: “A year ago, there was a rigged presidential election in Belarus. But the regime's deceptions did not stop free Belarusians and Belarusians from striving for their own free and democratic state. Let's remember about them. Let us be in solidarity”.
Riga Mayor Mārtiņš Staķis said in an Instagram story: On this and every day we say: Belarusians deserve democracy, respect for human rights and freedom!
Former Minister of Defence and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
Linas Linkevičius tweeted: ‘Year ago people of #Belarus revolted against terror, decided to take the fate of the nation into their own hands. They can be proud becoming example of courage to the entire world. Alas, the world can’t be proud because regime in its agony continues to destroy peoples destinies’.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Tomáš Petříček tweeted: ‘Belarus underwent a major change a year ago, although freedom and justice have not yet been achieved. The manipulation of the elections by Lukashenko has brought a great boost, which continues to this day. And the regime is afraid, as evidenced by the repression against the opposition, academics, students, artists and now athletes’.
Many other politicians, diplomats and parliamentarians expressed support for the Belarusians on this day. Human rights organizations and political experts also joined them.
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Demonstrations of solidarity with Belarusians were held in more than 35 cities around the world. The Belarusian diaspora and friends of Belarus held events in Great Britain, France, USA, Israel, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Austria, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Ukraine, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, Spain. White-red-white national flags were raised over the buildings of Riga (Latvia), Lviv (Ukraine), Warsaw and Wroclaw (both Poland).
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International media did not stand aside either.
On the anniversary of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, the Italian newspaper la Repubblica published an interview with the leader of the democratic forces, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
This Monday, the largest British newspaper, The Guardian, also published an interview with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
On August 9, the day when the struggle for freedom in Belarus started a year ago, the Polish media Gazeta Wyborcza, together with the editors of other European media, published a letter from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
In the issue of the Danish newspaper Politiken, published on August 8, the main page shows a letter from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya: ‘If you can feel the fear growing in your chest, you can also gather the courage to face your oppressors’.
British media Mail+ also published a letter from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on August 9.
