April 16, Pozirk. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to promote democracy and defend human rights in Belarus during his meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja on Monday.
On April 15, Canada sanctioned 21 persons responsible for ongoing human rights violations in Belarus since the fraudulent presidential election of 2020, he stressed.
Trudeau condemned the detention of political prisoners by Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime and the ongoing attacks on freedom of the press, praising Cichanoŭskaja’s efforts to defend the rights of Belarusians, his website said.
Cichanoŭskaja urged Canada to cooperate closely with the opposition transition cabinet and stressed the need to oversee sanction implementation to prevent evasion attempts, her aide Franak Viačorka told Pozirk.
She also drew Trudeau’s attention to the production of weapons and their parts in Belarus, which are supplied to the Russian army that is waging war against Ukraine.
The politician asked Canada as the future chair of G7 to invite Belarusian pro-democracy politicians to the G7 summit in 2025 and support Belarus’ opposition in the international organizations.
Cichanoŭskaja visited Canada on April 14 and 15.
