Belarusian opposition leader to meet EU leaders amid drive for ‘people’s embassies’

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband was detained by the regime, will meet the German president

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will meet European leaders this week in a bid to up pressure on dictator Alexander Lukashenko and end the long running political crisis in the country.

The visits are part of a wider drive that has also seen the Belarusian opposition open “People’s Embassies” in a dozen countries, including the UK, as an alternative to the Lukashenko regime’s diplomatic missions.

Ms Tsikhanouskaya said she would visit Berlin and Brussels from Sunday, meeting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, and other figures.

The aim of the trip will be “to stop violence and lawlessness against Belarusians” as a first step towards organising a new presidential election, according to a statement from Ms Tsikhanouskaya. 

“Tell everyone about our…unending thirst for freedom,” the opposition leader said at the online launch of the unofficial embassies this week.

The “People’s Embassies” will serve Belarusians living abroad who oppose the Lukashenko regime. Their main tasks will be to “inform the public about the situation in Belarus”, liaise with local governments, and offer assistance to those forced to leave the country.

Such offices have been opened in Brazil, Germany, Ireland and South Korea, among other countries. 

Police in Belarus detained 135 demonstrators at a Sunday march, the Belarusian rights group Viasna-96 (Spring-96) said, as weekly protests demanding the resignation of veteran President Alexander Lukashenko continued.

More than 120 marches took place in the Belarus capital Minsk and other cities on Sunday, with numbers at each ranging from dozens to several hundred, according to local news outlet Nasha Niva. 

Some protesters marched in outlying residential areas of Minsk, waving white flags with a red stripe in the middle, a symbol of the opposition, and shouting “long live Belarus”.

More than 30,000 people have been detained in Belarus since the start of the protests in August, according to opposition leaders.

Belarus has been in crisis since August, when Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled the country with an iron fist for 26 years, declared victory in an election widely seen as rigged. 

Police launched a violent crackdown against mass protests that broke out following the results, targeting demonstrators with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. Protestors have reported being tortured in police custody and several have died during the rallies.

But Mr Lukashenko has clung onto power, with support form the security services and financial aid from Russia. 

Ms Tsikhanouskaya said she was the legitimate winner of the election but was forced to flee to neighbouring Lithuania after apparent threats to her children.

The EU and UK have imposed sanctions on Mr Lukashenko and top Belarusian officials over the police violence.