04:15Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the EU to take 'decisive action' and continue the economic sanctions against Lukashenko during a formal session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
"Will Europe as a whole have the courage to take decisive action now? Or will we wait another year?" said Tsikhanouskaya.
Her speech comes a day after a European Parliament special session on the heightened tensions at the border between Belarus and the EU and the security and humanitarian consequences.
"I assure you, sanctions do work, continue holding a consistent sanctions policy. Sanctions split the elites, destroy corruption schemes and divide people around Lukashenko because no one wants to bear the responsibility for the regime's crimes. Let us be firm. We must not let lobbyists block the necessary sanctions," said Tsikhanouskaya.
Relations between the EU and Belarus have deteriorated in recent months, with the EU accusing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of deliberately sending migrants over the border in response to sanctions imposed by the EU. Minsk has denied the allegations.
France: Belarusian opposition leader calls for 'decisive action' against Lukashenko
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the EU to take 'decisive action' and continue the economic sanctions against Lukashenko during a formal session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
"Will Europe as a whole have the courage to take decisive action now? Or will we wait another year?" said Tsikhanouskaya.
Her speech comes a day after a European Parliament special session on the heightened tensions at the border between Belarus and the EU and the security and humanitarian consequences.
"I assure you, sanctions do work, continue holding a consistent sanctions policy. Sanctions split the elites, destroy corruption schemes and divide people around Lukashenko because no one wants to bear the responsibility for the regime's crimes. Let us be firm. We must not let lobbyists block the necessary sanctions," said Tsikhanouskaya.
Relations between the EU and Belarus have deteriorated in recent months, with the EU accusing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of deliberately sending migrants over the border in response to sanctions imposed by the EU. Minsk has denied the allegations.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the EU to take 'decisive action' and continue the economic sanctions against Lukashenko during a formal session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
"Will Europe as a whole have the courage to take decisive action now? Or will we wait another year?" said Tsikhanouskaya.
Her speech comes a day after a European Parliament special session on the heightened tensions at the border between Belarus and the EU and the security and humanitarian consequences.
"I assure you, sanctions do work, continue holding a consistent sanctions policy. Sanctions split the elites, destroy corruption schemes and divide people around Lukashenko because no one wants to bear the responsibility for the regime's crimes. Let us be firm. We must not let lobbyists block the necessary sanctions," said Tsikhanouskaya.
Relations between the EU and Belarus have deteriorated in recent months, with the EU accusing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of deliberately sending migrants over the border in response to sanctions imposed by the EU. Minsk has denied the allegations.