Opposition leader urges international community to increase pressure on regime

November 2, BPN. The international community “must commit to an independent and sovereign Belarus,” said Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja.

“It should insist on the full removal of the Russian military and stop involvement in the war against Ukraine,” she tweeted. “Pressure must be increased on the regime with more sanctions and stronger support for democratic forces.”

The statement comes days after Alaksandr Łukašenka signed an edict approving a draft agreement with Russia on setting up new joint military training centers in Belarus and Russia.

Since October 15, Russia has been redeploying troops and aviation to Belarus as part of a joint regional group with the Belarusian army. Łukašenka said the move was in response to “a build-up on the Union state’s western borders.”

The Ukrainian military command called on Belarusians not to follow orders to enter the war against Ukraine to avoid responsibility for war crimes already committed by the Russian army.

Earlier, Łukašenka admitted that Belarus participated in Russia’s war against Ukraine without “killing anyone.”