In their joint statement, the foreign ministers said this criminal seizure of power by the illegitimate regime has since resulted in massive internal repression, complicity in war crimes and the crime of aggression, a rapid erosion of the sovereignty of Belarus, as well as the destabilization of the region.
Since February 2022, the Lukashenko regime has been acting as an accomplice and direct supporter of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine. “The Russian army is using Belarusian ammunition, spare parts and territory to launch attacks on Ukraine, and more than 2000 Ukrainian children have been taken forcefully to Belarus, which makes Lukashenko and the leadership of Belarus complicit in the war,” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.
For three years now, notwithstanding the firm condemnation by the international community, Lukashenko’s regime has continued to steadily ramp up its inhumane repressions. By now, the Lukashenko regime has as many as 1500 political prisoners, who are subjected to inhumane treatment and even torture, while many are held isolated from any communication for months.
The foreign ministers underlined that at this particularly painful moment in Belarusian history our countries continue to stand with its people. “We believe in democratic, independent, and sovereign Belarus, as much as we believe in the victory of Ukraine,” the joint statement says.
Minister Margus Tsahkna reaffirmed that Estonia would continue its solid support for the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian opposition and the civil society to ensure that the violations of human rights and international law happening in the country do not go unnoticed. “The international community must continue to stand for the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus and holding the organisers of repressions accountable,” he added.
The joint statement of the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland: https://vm.ee/en/news/joint-statement-estonian-latvian-lithuanian-and-polish-foreign-ministers-third-anniversary.
