Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has said that while she supports mediation from Russia for a peaceful transition of power in the eastern European country, the “future of Belarus would be only decided by its people”.

Speaking to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma in an exclusive interview, she also urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop supporting his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.

“I would like to underline that it is not up to Russia or other countries to decide the future of Belarus. It is only up to the people of Belarus. We are not in contact with Kremlin. We haven’t had any communication with them, but we sent our message through media, through different leaders that if Russia wants to play a constructive role in our country, then they have to stop supporting Lukashenko and his regime,” Tsikhanouskaya told WION from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she is living in exile.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-india-shouldnt-back-gangster-lukashenko-says-belarus-oppn-leader-sviatlana-tsikhanouskaya-421777">Exclusive: India shouldn't back ‘gangster’ Lukashenko, says Belarus oppn leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya</a>

Belarus has been on edge ever since August last year when a controversial presidential vote showed Lukashenko winning his sixth straight election. Thousands of people have been on the streets demanding that their autocratic leader step down.

Lukashenko has been the President of Belarus since 1994 and is known as “Europe’s last dictator.” It was alleged that he sought the help of Putin to solidify his leadership in the eastern European country.

Following Lukashenko’s disputed victory, a crackdown ensued, forcing Tikhanovskaya to flee the country, while others were jailed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-fight-west-aggression-belarus-may-turn-into-joint-military-base-with-russia-says-president-alexander-lukashenko-417737">To fight West aggression, Belarus may turn into joint military base with Russia, says President Alexander Lukashenko</a>

“We are sure that peaceful transition of power can be only through negotiations. We live in the 21st century, we are&nbsp;civilised people and everything should be solved peacefully. We welcome every side that can be a mediator in this negotiation. But it should not be a negotiation between the regimes of US, Russia and Belarus, but between the Belarus regime and the civil society, along with representatives of the other countries who can sit at the round table and be mediators. As a mediator, Russia, US, UK, India, whoever, if they can help us with this crisis, we welcome everyone,” she said.

Tsikhanouskaya said that Russia has also been keeping its distance from Belarus President Lukashenko as he has become a liability to the Kremlin government.

“Lukashenko is becoming expensive economically and politically for Kremlin. But the question is they don’t have another person to change Lukashenko at the moment. And now they are prolonging Lukashenko’s time by&nbsp;supporting him,” she said.

“They (Russia) understand that Lukashenko’s political career is over,” she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-belarus-agree-on-deepening-economic-integration-411981">Russia, Belarus agree on deepening economic integration</a>

Speaking on the US’ support for the democratic movement in Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya said she didn’t see any political will from the Biden government to resolve the issue.

“The Belarus Democracy Act was adopted rather fast in the US, but it has not been implemented fully. There is no political will for its implementation,” she said.

The Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 is a United States federal law that authorizes assistance for political parties, non-governmental organizations, and independent media working to advance democracy and human rights in Belarus.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has said that while she supports mediation from Russia for a peaceful transition of power in the eastern European country, the “future of Belarus would be only decided by its people”.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has said that while she supports mediation from Russia for a peaceful transition of power in the eastern European country, the “future of Belarus would be only decided by its people”. Speaking to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma in an exclusive interview, she also urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop supporting his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko. “I would like to underline that it is not up to Russia or other countries to decide the future of Belarus. It is only up to the people of Belarus. We are not in contact with Kremlin. We haven’t had any communication with them, but we sent our message through media, through different leaders that if Russia wants to play a constructive role in our country, then they have to stop supporting Lukashenko and his regime,” Tsikhanouskaya told WION from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she is living in exile. Also read | Exclusive: India shouldn't back ‘gangster’ Lukashenko, says Belarus oppn leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Belarus has been on edge ever since August last year when a controversial presidential vote showed Lukashenko winning his sixth straight election. Thousands of people have been on the streets demanding that their autocratic leader step down. Lukashenko has been the President of Belarus since 1994 and is known as “Europe’s last dictator.” It was alleged that he sought the help of Putin to solidify his leadership in the eastern European country. Following Lukashenko’s disputed victory, a crackdown ensued, forcing Tikhanovskaya to flee the country, while others were jailed. Also read | To fight West aggression, Belarus may turn into joint military base with Russia, says President Alexander Lukashenko “We are sure that peaceful transition of power can be only through negotiations. We live in the 21st century, we are civilised people and everything should be solved peacefully. We welcome every side that can be a mediator in this negotiation. But it should not be a negotiation between the regimes of US, Russia and Belarus, but between the Belarus regime and the civil society, along with representatives of the other countries who can sit at the round table and be mediators. As a mediator, Russia, US, UK, India, whoever, if they can help us with this crisis, we welcome everyone,” she said. Tsikhanouskaya said that Russia has also been keeping its distance from Belarus President Lukashenko as he has become a liability to the Kremlin government. “Lukashenko is becoming expensive economically and politically for Kremlin. But the question is they don’t have another person to change Lukashenko at the moment. And now they are prolonging Lukashenko’s time by supporting him,” she said. “They (Russia) understand that Lukashenko’s political career is over,” she added. Also read | Russia, Belarus agree on deepening economic integration Speaking on the US’ support for the democratic movement in Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya said she didn’t see any political will from the Biden government to resolve the issue. “The Belarus Democracy Act was adopted rather fast in the US, but it has not been implemented fully. There is no political will for its implementation,” she said. The Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 is a United States federal law that authorizes assistance for political parties, non-governmental organizations, and independent media working to advance democracy and human rights in Belarus.

Exclusive: Belarus’ political future will be decided by its people, not Russia, says oppn leader Tsikhanouskaya

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has urged India not to support strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, calling him a ‘gangster’, in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma.

“It is about democratic values which are important for India as well. You can’t support a gangster. You can't support a criminal. It is the basis of any democracy. India can be vocal about the situation. India can't say that everything is alright in Belarus when thousands are tortured in jails at the moment. India should stop cooperating with the regime,” Tsikhanouskaya told WION from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she is living in exile.

She urged India to support rule of law and democratic values in Belarus, adding that she would like to have cordial relations with New Delhi.&nbsp;

"We ask India to postpone the cooperation until democratic changes and elections happen in our country. I really want India to be honest and support human rights, rule of law and democratic values. I would like to have wonderful relations with India,"&nbsp;Tsikhanouskaya said.

Tsikhanouskaya was the opposition candidate in the highly controversial presidential election of 2020, which Lukashenko won much to the chagrin of the international community that rejected the vote.

She entered the fray after her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky was arrested by Belarusian authorities.

Since the election, forces of Lukashenko, who has been president since 1994, have cracked down on months of opposition protests, eventually leading Tsikhanouskaya and her close associates to leave the country.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has urged India not to support strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, calling him a ‘gangster’, in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has urged India not to support strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, calling him a ‘gangster’, in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma. “It is about democratic values which are important for India as well. You can’t support a gangster. You can't support a criminal. It is the basis of any democracy. India can be vocal about the situation. India can't say that everything is alright in Belarus when thousands are tortured in jails at the moment. India should stop cooperating with the regime,” Tsikhanouskaya told WION from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she is living in exile. She urged India to support rule of law and democratic values in Belarus, adding that she would like to have cordial relations with New Delhi. "We ask India to postpone the cooperation until democratic changes and elections happen in our country. I really want India to be honest and support human rights, rule of law and democratic values. I would like to have wonderful relations with India," Tsikhanouskaya said. Tsikhanouskaya was the opposition candidate in the highly controversial presidential election of 2020, which Lukashenko won much to the chagrin of the international community that rejected the vote. She entered the fray after her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky was arrested by Belarusian authorities. Since the election, forces of Lukashenko, who has been president since 1994, have cracked down on months of opposition protests, eventually leading Tsikhanouskaya and her close associates to leave the country.

Exclusive: India shouldn't back ‘gangster’ Lukashenko, says Belarus oppn leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya 

According to reports, President Lukashenko's government in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-imposes-sanctions-on-lukashenko-citing-worsening-situation-in-belarus-334906">Belarus</a> has put opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on its "wanted list".

Watch:

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Russia's state-owned RIA news agency reported that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was put on the "wanted list" by the Belarus government over allegedly making calls to overthrow the constitutional order.

Tsikhanouskaya had fled to Lithuania after the disputed August 9 elections which was claimed by Lukashenko. Tsikhanouskaya was later seen in Berlin where she met Chancellor Merkel while calling for Lukashenko's removal.

Tikhanovskaya,38, had earlier given an ultimatum to Lukashenko quit by October 25 and halt the "state terror". "If our demands are not met by October 25, the whole country will peacefully take to the streets," Tsikhanouskaya had said in a statement.

"And on October 26 a nationwide strike will begin at all enterprises, all roads will be blocked, and sales at state stores will collapse," she said, adding, "You have 13 days,"&nbsp;

Sviatlana's husband Sergei Tikhanovsky has been jailed by Lukashenko's regime.

Belarus has witnessed large scale street protests against Lukashenko who has been in power since 1994. Several people have been arrested in anti-government protests in the country. 
&nbsp; 
Tsikhanouskaya has also appeared on Russia's wanted list after the interior ministry asserted due to an agreement reached earlier on a regional block in which both Russia and Belarus were members.

According to reports, President Lukashenko's government in Belarus has put opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on its "wanted list". Watch: Russia's state-owned RIA news agency reported that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was put on the "wanted list" by the Belarus government over allegedly making calls to overthrow the constitutional order.

According to reports, President Lukashenko's government in Belarus has put opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on its "wanted list". Watch: Russia's state-owned RIA news agency reported that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was put on the "wanted list" by the Belarus government over allegedly making calls to overthrow the constitutional order. Tsikhanouskaya had fled to Lithuania after the disputed August 9 elections which was claimed by Lukashenko. Tsikhanouskaya was later seen in Berlin where she met Chancellor Merkel while calling for Lukashenko's removal. Tikhanovskaya,38, had earlier given an ultimatum to Lukashenko quit by October 25 and halt the "state terror". "If our demands are not met by October 25, the whole country will peacefully take to the streets," Tsikhanouskaya had said in a statement. "And on October 26 a nationwide strike will begin at all enterprises, all roads will be blocked, and sales at state stores will collapse," she said, adding, "You have 13 days," Sviatlana's husband Sergei Tikhanovsky has been jailed by Lukashenko's regime. Belarus has witnessed large scale street protests against Lukashenko who has been in power since 1994. Several people have been arrested in anti-government protests in the country. Tsikhanouskaya has also appeared on Russia's wanted list after the interior ministry asserted due to an agreement reached earlier on a regional block in which both Russia and Belarus were members.

Lukashenko regime in Belarus puts opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on 'wanted list'

In Belarus, protests has been intensified against the Alexander Lukashenko regime. The long ruling 'strongman' is now facing new threat in the form of European Union sanctions.

Protest intensifies in Belarus against Lukashenko regime, face new threats as EU sanctions