On May 24, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a call with the United States National Security Advisor to Joe Biden Jake Sullivan. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya told Jake Sullivan all the yet known details of the arrest of Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega. She added that there is no doubt that Raman is being tortured in prison. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya suggested discussing further joint actions of the international community to bring the perpetrators to justice, release Raman and all political prisoners.
Leader of democratic Belarus called on the United States to investigate the plane hijack and arrest of Pratasevich and consider the suspension of Belarus' membership in the International Civil Aviation Organization, Interpol.
“Current situation with the hijack cannot of the civilian plane be considered separately from other repressions and blatant violations of human rights in Belarus. The attack on TUT.by, the death of political prisoner Vitold Ashurak, the capture of Roman – all this is the result of the regime's impunity and the lack of a proportional reaction from the international community. Therefore, the reaction should be comprehensive, including sanctions and political isolation of the regime”, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya stressed.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she is already working with US Ambassador Julie Fischer and suggested that the US discuss the solution to the crisis at the G7 summit in London with the participation of Belarusian democratic forces. She also spoke about an opportunity to hold a high-level international conference on resolving the crisis in Belarus this summer.
Shortly after Ms. Tsikhanouskaya's call with Mr. Sullivan, US President Joe Biden made a statement on Belarus.
