Belarus has awakened and people no longer want to live in fear and lies, Belarusian opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovska told a news conference in Vilnius on Friday.
She emphasized the need for new presidential elections in Belarus, thanked all those who supported Belarus and called on all countries in the world to respect Belarus’ sovereignty.
“Our common goal is simple – we no longer want to live in fear and lies. We want what everyone in the world is entitled to – the right to live, not to be beaten on the streets, the right not to go to prison without trial, the right to democratic, transparent elections,” said Tikhanovsky.
“The elections must be held again – free, fair and transparent. This is what the Belarusian people are demanding, and their voice must be heard,” the opposition candidate said. “We have always been told that the president loves his country and his people, and what he sees now makes him clearly understand that people want change. I very much hope and believe that common sense will prevail and the nation will be heard, will be started dialogue and new, transparent elections. “
She also expressed her conviction that neither Russian nor other countries should be allowed to interfere in the affairs of Belarus, but refrained from talking in more detail about Russia’s current and potential influence on events in Belarus.
“We are grateful to any country that supports Belarus’s efforts to defend its rights, but I want to reiterate that I call on all countries to respect the sovereignty of our nation,” Tikhanovsky said in response to a question from journalists about sanctions against the Belarusian regime.
She also called for an end to the violence in Belarus and the release of political prisoners, adding that people in Belarus are currently being beaten only for expressing their views and detained only for taking part in peaceful demonstrations.
Tihanovska has admitted that she loves her homeland very much and wants to return, but this will only be possible when she can feel safe there.
The opposition candidate said she did not want to talk about the threats she and her family had received, but added that everyone in Belarus now felt insecure.
“I think everyone in our country is afraid, but our task is to overcome our fears and move forward,” she said.
Answering questions from journalists, Tikhanovsky admitted that he did not want to remember the night when he was forced to leave Belarus.
She made no secret of the fact that she had to choose the path of a politician not of her own volition, but because it was not possible for her husband, opposition activist Sergei Tikhanovsky, who is currently in custody in Belarus.
“My husband knows we are abroad and is glad we are safe,” Tikhanovsky added.
She declined to answer whether she would run in the new presidential election.
According to official results, Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, won 80.1% of the vote and Tikhanovsky’s 10.1% in the August 9 presidential election, but the opposition believes the election results are rigged. and Tikhanovsky won the election convincingly.
Lithuania hosted Tikhanovska and her children because an opposition candidate was forced to leave Belarus after trying to lodge a complaint with the Central Election Commission the day after the election, demanding a transfer of votes, and allegedly receiving threats against her children and husband.
In Vilnius, Tikhanyovsky called on European leaders not to recognize the results of the Belarusian elections and initiated the establishment of a Coordinating Council to ensure the transfer of power in Belarus, promising to announce new elections with foreign observers.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Wednesday after the EU summit that the bloc member states do not recognize the results of the Belarusian elections.
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