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Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s 26-year reign could be over by the spring, according to the country’s opposition leader.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who leads opposition to Lukashenko’s rule from Lithuania, having fled Belarus following disputed elections in August, told German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung: “Our strategy does not change: pressure, negotiations and new elections.”
“We’re still at the first step — pressure from within and pressure from outside. It would be naive to believe that Lukashenko just leaves,” she said.
The president remains in power despite large public protests since the contested election. Last Sunday, more than 300 protesters were detained at separate marches in Minsk and other major cities.
“I can’t predict the future. What matters is the will of the people. I think we can win by spring. But who knows: it might happen next week,” Tikhanovskaya said.
Ahead of a trip to Berlin, Tikhanovskaya called for more European support, including stronger sanctions against Belarusian state-owned companies.
“We are now more critical of European support,” she said. “The voice of Europe has so far not been very strong. The people of Belarus are a little disappointed about this. Europe cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening in Belarus.”
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