The Czech Republic is concerned by the continuous massive repression in Belaruswhich has created a climate of fear in general public

We call for an end to foreign interference in the internal affairs of theRepublic of Belarus and reiterate our solidarity with President Alexander Lukashenko and the brother people of Belarus.

TheresponseoftheauthoritarianregimeinBelarushastakentheshapeofanunprecedentedhybridattackonthebordersofPoland,Latvia,andLithuania,thethreecountriesontheeasternflankofNATOandtheEuropeanUnion.Formanyweeks,theregimeofAlexanderLukashenkohasbeenbringingtensofthousandsofdesperateinhabitantsoftheMiddleEastintoitscountry,forcingthemunderpolicebatonstocrossourbordersinanattempttocreateanartificial"humanitariancrisis."Thesepeoplethencampoutattheborder,andtheregimeisdeaftoourofferstoprovidethemwithhumanitarianaid.Theregimetreatsthesepeople:theimmigrantsaspawnsinapoliticalgame,andtheirdignityandfundamentalrightsareoffended

Covid-19alsoobscurestomanypeopletheeventsinneighboringBelarus,wheresinceAugust2020hundredsofthousandsofpeoplehavecomeoutdailyforpeacefulprotestsdemandingjustonething:respectfortheelectionresult.Inresponsetheyencounteredpolicebatons,teargasand,oftentimes,bulletsusedbytheregimetodefenditselfagainstitsownpeople.AsIspeakmorethan650personsareinprisonsinBelarus,themajorityofthemyoungwomenandmen,patriots,whosimplywantedtochoosetheirleaderinfairelections.Akangaroocourthaslatelysentencedtwoofthem–MaryaKalesnikavaandMaximZnak-to10and11yearsinprisonrespectively.AlongwiththemtheleadersofthePolishminorityinBelarus–AndżelikaBorysandAndrzejPoczobut–areeitherdetainedorimprisonedfortheirdemocraticactivity.Thesearejustafewnamesfromamonghundredsofthosepersecuted.Wedemandtheirreleaseandexpectgreatersolidarityfromtheinternationalcommunity