Traveling in Lithuania, Emmanuel Macron received the Belarusian opposition leader and assured her of his support.

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Ludovic MARIN / AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday promised to help mediate the Belarusian political crisis, during a meeting with opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

"We will do our best as Europeans to help mediation," Emmanuel Macron told journalists, in English, after this meeting added to the program of his visit to Lithuania.

"Return to OSCE mediation"

He specified that he intended "to return to the mediation of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) in order to progress", before adding that "our objective is that this mediation begins in the coming days or weeks ”.

"The objective is a peaceful transition, the release of those who remain in prison for their political opinions and the holding of elections in a free environment, under international surveillance," he said.

For her part, Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa declared that the French head of state "has promised to do everything to help mediate this political crisis in our country".

This meeting was the most important of Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa since the presidential election of August 9, of which she claims the victory vis-a-vis the Belarusian President Alexandre Lukashenko.

Lukashenko "must go"

Belarus has been in turmoil since the presidential election of August 9, which Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claims victory over President Alexander Lukashenko, in office since 1994.

The opponent fled to Lithuania the day after the election, when mass demonstrations in the streets of the former Soviet republic are violently repressed and thousands of people arrested.

The European Union refused to recognize the result of the election and Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that Lukashenko "must go".

New election this year?

The meeting on Tuesday was the most important for Svetlana Tikhanovskaya since the disputed election.

The opponent has already met EU foreign ministers and the leaders of Poland and Lithuania, two neighboring states of Belarus.

New to politics, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, whose husband remains in prison in Belarus accused of attempting to overthrow the government, said he had accepted an invitation to speak to the French parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.

According to her, the crisis should be resolved "as soon as possible" and new free and fair elections organized before the end of the year.

Emmanuel Macron “supports the idea of ​​mediation because he understands that powerful countries must be involved in order to start negotiations with Lukashenko.

He is ready to help on this point, ”said the opponent.

"I think he will talk about Belarus with the Russian side and do everything possible to involve Russia in these negotiations," she added.

Putin denounces "external pressure"

According to Emmanuel Macron, President Vladimir Putin, the main ally of the Belarusian strongman, is in favor of OSCE mediation.

However, the Russian president said on Tuesday that Belarus was in a "difficult situation" and was facing "unprecedented external pressure".

Addressing a forum of Belarusian and Russian regions, the Kremlin chief said Moscow was ready to stand by Minsk's side, describing their ties as "timeless and weatherproof."

Vladimir Putin has pledged to provide Belarus with security assistance and granted a loan of $ 1.5 billion.

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  • Alexander Lukashenko

  • Diplomacy

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • World

  • Belarus