Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I know that President Trump made this call for an important humanitarian mission – to free our people and stop the repression. It is an attempt to save the lives of innocent people and achieve systemic change in Belarus. And I am confident that President Trump has the influence and all the necessary leverage to do this.
The regime must not only release people but also stop the repression. We have already provided the United States with all lists of political prisoners. Those released must be able to remain in Belarus if they wish, and those who left under the threat of repression must be able to return safely. These are essential steps toward de-escalation.
Unfortunately, experience shows that Lukashenka cannot be trusted. We must look at actions, not words”.
Today, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office held a conversation with Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher Smith, who is responsible for Belarus in the State Department and has contributed to the release of political prisoners before.
Earlier, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya sent a letter to President Trump urging him to assist in freeing political prisoners, submitted proposals to the White House on possible steps for their release, put forward recommendations to the United States administration, and shared her vision for resolving the crisis in Belarus in Foreign Affairs and the Hudson Institute.
