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BELARUS-LITHUANIA-DIPLOMACY-DISSENT
Belarus demands extradition of opposition leader Tikhanovskaya
MINSK, March 5, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Belarus said on Friday it had requested
the extradition of exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was
forced from the country during a crackdown on critics of leader Alexander
Lukashenko.
Tikhanovskaya, who challenged Lukashenko in last year’s presidential vote
that the opposition said was rigged, sought refuge in EU member Lithuania as
the crackdown intensified on anti-government demonstrations in her home
country.
The Belarus General Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday it had requested
that Lithuania extradite her “to face prosecution for crimes against the
governing order, public safety and the state”.
Investigators said this week that Tikhanovskaya, who stood in the August
vote in place of her jailed husband, had planned with associates to instigate
riots and capture government buildings in the second city Gomel.
Tikhanovskaya has dismissed the claims.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis responded that his
country “has been and will be a brick wall behind which all democratic forces
persecuted by regimes will find refugee”.
“We can say only one thing to the Belarusian regime: hell will first have
to freeze over before we consider your requests,” he said.
– EU sanctions –
Journalists and rights defenders are facing a slew of legal cases, which
have been condemned by international advocacy groups.
Dozens of media and rights workers had their homes and offices searched
last month and several journalists were recently handed jail terms after
reporting on the protests and the opposition crackdown.
Thousands were detained at spontaneous protests that followed Lukashenko’s
claim to a landslide victory and a sixth term in the August vote.
In exile, Tikhanovskaya been meeting EU leaders and representatives of
Western countries. She was expected in Geneva this weekend.
The European Union has slapped sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies but
the long-standing Belarus leader has strong support from Moscow and has
refused to step down.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1616HRS