Today, President of Latvia Egils Levits, President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda and President of Poland Andrzej Duda, who met in Kyiv to mark the 30th anniversary of independence of Ukraine and launch the Crimean Platform, also discussed the current situation in Belarus. A joint statement extending solidarity to people of Belarus, who are restricted in their rights in their homeland, was issued following the meeting.
Presidents express their growing concern about the violation of the rights of Belarusian citizens abroad. For example, the forced landing of plane was an act of state hijack and unprecedented violation of international law. Statement stresses that since June, we have been facing hybrid attacks on the European Union’s and NATO’s eastern border. Belarus is using these attacks to divert attention from the regime’s growing human and civil rights abuses. Heads of Baltic states and Poland condemn this unacceptable behaviour.
Presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland express their appreciation to EU partners and NATO allies for their solidarity, political and operational support in stopping hybrid attacks. They call for release of all political prisoners and urge to fully restore their rights. Presidents also promise to continue cooperation with partners and allies to impose additional sanctions against the Belarus authorities.
“We – the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – stand in solidarity against the aggressive and destabilizing behaviour of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and the Belarus’ authorities. We remain convinced that the will of the Belarusian Nation should be the main guideline for shaping the future of the Republic of Belarus,’ says the statement.