Belarus: for Emmanuel Macron, "it is clear that Lukashenko must leave"

French President Emmanuel Macron during a press conference at the residence of the French Ambassador in Beirut, September 1, 2020. GONZALO FUENTES / POOL / AFP

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashneko "must go," French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with Le Journal du dimanche.

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“ 

What is happening in Belarus is a crisis of power, an authoritarian power which cannot accept the logic of democracy and which hangs on by force.

It is clear that Lukashenko must leave,

 ”said Emmanuel Macron in an interview with the

Journal du dimanche

.

The French president also says he is " 

impressed by the courage of the demonstrators

 " in Belarus.

They know the risks they take by parading every weekend and yet they are continuing the movement to bring democracy to life in this country which has been deprived of it for so long,

 " adds Emmanuel Macron, for whom " 

women in in particular, which parade every Saturday, command respect

 ”.

More than 90 people, mostly women, were arrested on Saturday September 26 during opposition rallies, an NGO said.

Macron expects more from Putin

Regarding the role of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the search for a solution to the political crisis after

the contested re-election of President Lukashenko on August 9,

Emmanuel Macron considers that we are still far from the mark.

“ 

It turns out that I spoke to Vladimir Putin on September 14, the day he received Lukashenko in Sochi.

I told him that Russia has a role to play, and this role can be positive if it pushes Lukashenko to respect the truth of the ballot box and to release political prisoners.

It was two weeks ago, we are not there

 ”, declares the French president, quoted by the newspaper.

(With AFP)

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  • Belarus

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • Vladimir Poutine

  • Alexander Lukashenko

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