November 20, Pozirk. Estonia will not recognize the upcoming presidential vote in Belarus as it is set to take place in an “atmosphere of terror,” Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said after meeting Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja in Tallinn yesterday.
The presidential election on January 21-26 “cannot meet democratic norms,” the Estonian foreign ministry’s press office quoted him as saying. “We must ramp up sanctions against [Alaksandar] Lukašenka’s regime to make him realize that his selling his country and people to Russia is unacceptable.”
Tsahkna also announced Estonia’s contribution of €30,000 to the International Humanitarian Fund set up by the Belarusian opposition to support political prisoners and their families.
“For a long time now, Estonia has considered it very important to support the opposition and political prisoners of Belarus, and we will continue working towards the release of all political prisoners,” the diplomat stressed.
Tallinn welcomes all steps aimed at holding Belarusian officials accountable and supports Lithuania’s proposal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch an investigation into crimes against humanity in Belarus, he added.
Cichanoŭskaja presented Tsahkna with the Cross of Good Neighborhood for supporting the Belarusian opposition. Her two-day visit to Estonia also featured meetings with other ministers and top politicians.
Belarus will hold its seventh presidential election from January 21 to 26, with the whole election cycle limited to just three months. The previous 2020 presidential race was marred by police brutality against peaceful protesters.
The Belarusian opposition dismissed the election as a sham, noting that political reprisals prevent pro-democracy candidates from running and voters from freely expressing their will.
Pro-democracy forces called on supporters to protest the election “by voting against all those who steal our right to vote.” By voting “against all” the Belarusian public will demonstrate that it continues to oppose Łukašenka and demands free and fair elections, the opposition said in a statement.
