On March 16, Ales Bialiatski, head of the Viasna Human Rights Centre and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, met in Prague with Czech President Petr Pavel.
Bialiatski emphasized the key importance of continued international support for Belarusian democratic forces and highlighted the role of sanctions as a crucial tool of pressure on the Lukashenka regime. He also stressed the need for systematic assistance to civil society, independent media, and all those who continue efforts for a free future of their country, the Office of Belarusian Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic reported.
The meeting also addressed assistance to political prisoners and the possibility of resuming the MEDEVAC Czech humanitarian programme, which could provide necessary medical care to former political prisoners.
Bialiatski noted that the Belarusian people do not support Russia in the war against Ukraine and stressed that Belarus is not Russia but a country with its own history that belongs to the European cultural and political space.
