Today 31 May, Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets met with visiting Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. At the meeting, the foreign minister expressed support for the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people and Tsikhanouskaya’s continued efforts to raise the situation in the country.
They discussed developments in Belarus and Estonia’s actions in international organisations to keep the challenges of Belarus on the agenda. “The increased serious violations of human rights in the country are extremely concerning. Estonia will definitely continue to keep the focus on the issue at bilateral meetings and in international organisations to support the people of Belarus in their quest for a democratic future and respect for human rights,” Liimets said.
Liimets and Tsikhanouskaya discussed in more detail the recent incident where the Belarusian authorities forced a Ryanair passenger plane to land in Minsk to detain an opposition journalist on board. Liimets said Estonia immediately started consultations with allies and on 26 May, we raised the issue at the UN Security Council.
“Estonia strongly condemns the forced landing of the Ryanair flight in Minsk, which endangered the passengers and flight crew, and demands the immediate release of Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega who were arrested,” Liimets added.
Foreign Minister Liimets previously met Tsikhanouskaya via video ahead of the Day of Solidarity with Belarus in February.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her visit on Monday morning with a meeting with President Kersti Kaljulaid, and a joint press conference. She also met with President of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) Jüri Ratas, Chairman of the Riigikogu’s Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson and Member of Riigikogu Urmas Reinsalu. In the evening, she will see the play Error 403, which covers the tragic events of the Belarusian revolution and is produced at the Vaba Lava venue by the founder of the Belarus Free Theatre, Nikolai Khalezin.
Photos of the meeting (Marko Mumm)
Additional information:
Kristina Ots
Media Adviser
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
[email protected]
