Cichanoŭskaja to visit Paris at the invitation of French Senate President to discuss the situation in Belarus

February 22, BPN. Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Cichanoŭskaja announced on Twitter her upcoming visit to Paris on February 23-25 at the invitation of French Senate President Gérard Larcher.

She plans to discuss the situation in Belarus and the region during her visit. Cichanoŭskaja noted that now “it’s vital to receive support for our sovereignty and democratic aspirations,” since “the dictator [Aliaksandr Lukašenka] became an international threat.”

On December 17, 2021, Cichanoŭskaja met in Vilnius with Larcher and the heads of the Senate committees on defense, foreign affairs, and European affairs, as well as delegates from the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group France-Baltic countries.

Belarusian democratic leader discussed with the French politicians the situation with political prisoners in Belarus and the problem of illegal arrests. The senators stated that they would raise the issue of Belarus in parliament and before the government for France to take an active part in resolving the crisis.

Following the meeting, Larcher said that in the first half of 2022, when France chairs the EU Council, Cichanoŭskaja would be able to address MEPs in Paris.

In September 2021, Cichanoŭskaja made a four-day visit to France, where she had 15 meetings, including with Isabelle Dumont, Adviser to the President of France, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

In September 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Cichanoŭskaja in Vilnius. Following the meeting, she stated that the French leader had promised her assistance in resolving the political crisis in Belarus.