Cichanoŭskaja urges Croatia to distinguish between regime, ordinary Belarusians

January 26, BPN. Ordinary Belarusians should not be associated with the Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana has told journalists at a joint press conference with Gordan Grlić-Radman, Croatia’s foreign minister.

“Dictator Łukašenka is fully responsible for participating in the war against Ukraine. While 86 percent of Belarusians are against the war, and many stand for Ukraine,” she said.

“Belarus is not Russia,” she stressed. “Belarus has always been a part of the European community, and we strive for it. And we see our future in friendship with Croatia.”

Both countries have few links and know almost nothing about each other, the politician noted. “Today the territory of Belarus is under creeping occupation, but we can build ties between people,” she said. “We also have something in common: this is the story of the struggle for independence and identity, the struggle against the dictatorship.”

Cichanoŭskaja also discussed assistance to Belarusian volunteers fighting Russia in Ukraine, steps to isolate Lukashenka’s regime and scholarships for Belarusian students.

She thanked Croatia for issuing visas to Belarusians stressing that people should always have the opportunity to leave and continue their struggle.

Cichanoŭskaja’s visit to Zagreb on January 26 and 27 also includes meetings with Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković.