July 7, Pozirk. Washington should be prepared to reject Alaksandar Łukašenka’s efforts to establish legitimacy as it is expanding contacts with Minsk after a five-year break in relations that followed the disputed 2020 election, Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja told Politico.
“Don’t normalize the situation where people are released for some concessions from your side, softening of sanctions or publicity. Łukašenka has to be punished, not rewarded,” she said following the recent release of her dissident husband from prison in Belarus, where at least 1,160 other regime critics are still held behind bars.
Siarhiej Cichanoŭski and 13 other prisoners were released on June 21 after the Belarusian ruler met Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine. The meeting sparked doubts about whether the Trump administration will maintain pressure on Minsk.
“I trust that American partners. . . know who they’re dealing with,” Cichanoŭskaja said, noting that Belarus could be “President Trump’s foreign policy success story” if he and the US allies ensure the country is not handed to Russia as a consolation prize in talks to end the war on Ukraine.
Washington can “change the whole security architecture of the region” by leveraging power and sanctions to free more prisoners and push for systemic changes in Belarus, the politician stressed.
The aggressor cannot be rewarded, and peace in the region will not be possible with Łukašenka in power, she said.
In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in which Łukašenka and his officials supported the Kremlin, allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and supplying arms to Moscow.
