From Vilnius, No. 2 in American diplomacy condemns brutal repression in Belarus

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Just 200 kilometers from Minsk, Vilnius continues to be the best situation observation post in Belarus. On his way to Moscow, Stephen Biegun, the number two in American diplomacy, made a short stopover in the Lithuanian capital.

Publicity

From our correspondent in Vilnius ,  Marielle Vitureau

Short and intense. During his visit lasting a few hours, the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States met opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, met with the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and participated in a large forum on Belarus. In Vilnius, his message was mostly intended to be heard in Minsk, as Alexander Lukashenko increasingly cried out for interference from neighboring countries.

“  We condemn the human rights violations and brutality that we have witnessed in Belarus since election day. We call on the government to release the prisoners. The United States cannot and will not go in the direction of events in Belarus. It's up to Belarusians to do it,  ”he said.

After multiple phone calls between European presidents and ministers in recent days, Stephen Biegun opened the ball to diplomatic visits. A French MEP from the presidential party also visited Vilnius. Other European visits remain to be confirmed to speak Belarus before the big meeting of European foreign ministers in Berlin at the end of the week.

►Also read: Tens of thousands of Belarusians demonstrate again against Lukashenko

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Belarus
• United States

On the same subject

Tikhanovskaya: "Freedom, honesty and transparency, this is what Belarus wants"

Lithuania: huge human chain of solidarity with Belarusians

Belarus files legal action against opposition 'council'