National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, NSC Senior Director for European Affairs Amanda Sloat, and NSC Director for Eastern Europe Christopher Smith also joined the meeting.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged the United States to support her call for mediated negotiations leading to a new presidential election in Belarus under international observation this year.
She stressed the importance of building up pressure on Lukashenka’s regime to persuade it to hold inclusive dialogue with the representatives of democratic forces to end the political and human rights crisis. The regime should stop the unprecedented level of repressions and release all political prisoners.
At the same time, the Belarusian pro-democracy leader urged the United States to increase support and emergency funding for Belarusian civil society and independent media.
“I asked President Biden to stand with Belarus and support our democratic movement with concrete actions. I recognize that the United States has long stood for democracy and the rule of law. Belarus can and will be a success story. And I count on the free world to be part of this success”, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said.
Tsikhanouskaya concluded, “the meeting today is a big step forward. But we still have a long way to go. Belarusians are urging the United States to walk this road with us”.
