The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that it draws a distinction between the Belarusian people and the Lukashenko regime
Andriy Sibiga, Ukraine’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement marking the sixth anniversary of the protests in Belarus against the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Sybiga recalled that on August 9, 2020, Belarusians took to the streets in mass protests, demanding democratic change and the right to determine their country’s future on their own. According to him, the authorities responded with repression, imprisonment, and the forced exile of opposition figures and protesters.
“Six years ago, on August 9, Belarusians clearly demonstrated their desire for democratic change and their right to determine the future of their own country. Their choice was met with repression,” Sibiga wrote.
He emphasized that years of pressure and persecution have not destroyed the Belarusian people’s desire for freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. Sibiga also emphasized that Ukraine distinguishes between the Belarusian people and Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. According to him, it is Lukashenko’s regime that bears responsibility for facilitating Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“We appreciate the many Belarusians who have sided with Ukraine and spoken out against Russian aggression,” the official noted.
Sibiga expressed hope that Belarus will one day become a free, independent, democratic, and European state, where the country’s future will be determined by its people, not by Moscow.
He also stated that Ukraine will continue to work closely with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Belarusians who aspire to live in a free and European Belarus.
Sybaga wrote about this on social media platform X.
As a reminder, Lithuania and Latvia issued statements marking the sixth anniversary of the protests in Belarus against the results of the 2020 presidential election, which the international community did not recognize as free and democratic.
Ukraine is awaiting a U.S. delegation to resume the peace process — Sibaga
