Opposition leader praises Belarusian 'solidarity'

Belarus's exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has praised protesters in Lithuania for standing in solidarity with her country.

She was speaking at a rally on Saturday in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

It marked the first anniversary of her husband Syarhey Tsikhanousky's arrest in Belarus, days after he announced a presidential bid to challenge authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Around 150 people turned out in Vilnius for the event.

Along with Tsikhanouskaya, thousands of Belarusians have fled to Lithuania since authorities escalated a harsh crackdown on dissent last year.