Today, Gomel Regional Court has sentenced the defendants in the “Tsikhanouski’s case” in which Siarhei Tsikhanouski was sentenced to 18 years in a strengthened regime prison colony, and other political prisoners were sentenced to 14-16 years. We tell how politicians from the EU and the United States reacted to this.
- Egils Levits, the President of Latvia:
“Stay strong Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and families of those sentenced today to long jail terms by regime of tyrant Alexander Lukashenko. As Latvian dissident Gunārs Astra said in court in 1983, ‘this time will disappear, like a nightmare’”, – the politician wrote.
- Andrzej Duda, the President of Poland:
“I express my solidarity with all political prisoners of the Lukashenka regime, including those convicted today amid the demonstration trial of Siarhei Tsikhanouski. I am impressed by the courage of Belarusians, whose struggle resembles our struggle against the communist regime”, – the politician wrote.
- Janez Jansa, the Prime Minister of Slovenia:
“Stay strong and brave, Tsikhanouskaya. Not far in the future, the dictator is just a bad memory. And you, the freedom fighters, will be running your homeland, healing the wounds and taking care for a beautiful country Belarus and it’s people”, – Jansa wrote.
- Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State:
“We condemn today’s politically motivated convictions of Belarusian opposition figures Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Mikalai Statkevich, and journalist Ihar Losik. We call for their immediate, unconditional release and that of all 900+ political prisoners held by the Lukashenka regime”, – Blinken commented on the verdict.
- Jeppe Kofod, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark:
“I call for the immediate unconditional release of Belarus opposition figures condemned to long prison sentences in closed sham trials. Including prospective president candidate Siarhei Tsikhanouski. Lukashenko’s behavior is cruel and unworthy of any civilized country”, – the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark wrote.
- Zbigniew Rau, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland:
“They are treated like dangerous criminals. This is contempt for a person and his dignity, contempt for the Belarusian people. It is impossible for this shameful verdict to remain without any consequences for the authorities in Minsk.
I will do everything possible for the release of political prisoners!”, – the politician wrote.
- Eva-Maria Liimets, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia:
“I condemn the court sentence passed in Belarus against Siarhei Tsikhanouski for having stood for fundamental freedoms. He must be freed immediately as well as all political prisoners of Belarus. There is no excuse for political repressions”, – the politician wrote.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway:
“Norway condemns today’s sentencing of political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Ihar Losik, to lengthy prison terms. A brutal regime continues to silence its critics. We support the people of Belarus in their demand for an end to repressions. #StandWithBelarus”, – the ministry wrote.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland:
“Today, the next political prisoners in Belarus have been sentenced to long prison terms.
- Siarhei Tsikhanouski
- Mikalai Statkevich
- Ihar Losik
- Artsiom Sakau
- Uladzimir️ Tsyhanovich
- Dmitry Popov
We will fight for your release! #StandWithBelarus”, – the ministry wrote.
- Roberta Metsola, the Vice President of the European Parliament:
“Europe will not look away. The world will not close its eyes to what is happening.Lukashenko will be held accountable. Belarus will be free”, – the politician wrote.
- Laura Boldrini, Italian politician:
“I express my solidarity to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in connection with the 18 years of imprisonment imposed on her husband by the judges of the Lukashenka regime. The verdict is drawn, as well as 11 years of Maria Kalesnikava. Ferocious intimidation to silence all forms of opposition in Belarus”, – she wrote.
- Frederic Petit, the member of the French Parliament:
“The justice of Lukashenka’s regime has sentenced Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, to 18 years in prison. My thoughts are with Sviatlana and her family in the face of this absurd and abominable decision. It is time for this dictatorship to fall!”, – Petit wrote.
- Julie Fisher, the U.S. Ambassador to Belarus:
“It is clear whom the regime most fears. The United States alongside our partners will continue efforts to secure the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Ihar Losik and all those facing unjust detention and vengeful verdicts.
The sentences imposed today on Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Ihar Losik, Uladzimir Tsyhanovich, Mikalai Statkevich, Artsiom Sakau and Dzmitry Papou are inescapable messages from the Lukashenka regime to those who oppose him. These are Belarusians who sought to shape their country’s future”, – Fisher wrote. She called the political prisoners and their families to stay strong.
