Belarus’s Tsikhanouskaya calls for release of opposition leader Kolesnikova

Vilnius, September 8

Exiled Belarusian opposition chief Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya referred to as on Tuesday for the discharge of Maria Kolesnikova, the highest-profile opposition determine nonetheless at giant till this week, when supporters say she was snatched right into a van.

Tsikhanouskaya, the principle candidate standing in opposition to President Alexander Lukashenko within the August 9 election, fled to neighbouring Lithuania after the vote which her followers say she received.

With most opposition figures jailed or in exile, a motion that has drawn tens of hundreds of individuals onto the streets for demonstrations was led partially by musician-turned-politician Kolesnikova, who vanished on Monday, the morning after one of many largest rallies but.

“I hope that she will be released soon, because it would be one more mistake from our authorities if they put her in jail without any reason”, Tsikhanouskaya advised Reuters at her headquarters within the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. “It would make our people even angrier.”

Neighbouring Ukraine has stated Belarusian authorities tried to forcibly expel Kolesnikova. Interfax information company stated she prevented her expulsion by tearing up her passport on the frontier. Belarusian border guards have stated she is in detention however haven’t stated the place.

Tsikhanouskaya stated she was proud that Kolesnikova had managed to forestall her forcible expulsion.

Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old English instructor and political novice, emerged because the consensus opposition candidate after higher identified figures, together with her personal jailed activist husband, have been barred from standing. She has referred to as for brand spanking new elections and stated she wouldn’t stand.

Tsikhanouskaya stated Kolesnikova had advised her she anticipated to be arrested sooner or later, and had a bag filled with heat garments and spare underwear to take to jail.

Still, Tsikhanouskaya stated she was shocked by what she referred to as a kidnapping on the street, and urged the worldwide neighborhood to use stress on Lukashenko to start negotiations with the opposition.

“The first steps should be sanctions on certain persons, just to show the intention of the international society to help the Belarusian people. Maybe in the future we will need some more help, if the authorities don’t go for dialogue”, she stated.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have imposed sanctions on 30 folks together with Lukashenko. The European Union is drawing up a listing of people for its personal sanctions, however has to date been cautious out of concern that robust motion may drive Russia to intervene on behalf of Lukashenko.

Lithuania expressed concern on Monday that Lukashenko may relinquish his nation’s independence by signing an settlement on deeper integration with Russia.

Tsikhanouskaya recommended any such treaty could be illegitimate.

“It’s a country for Belarusians and we want to keep our independence”, she stated. “So I ask all the leaders …. to remember that only Belarus’s people can decide how to live in our country.” Reuters