Tsikhanouskaya calls for EU support for Belarus

Members of the European Parliament Committee on Developments, Foreign Affairs and Human Rights heard from Belorussian former presidential challenger Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Monday.

Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus after summer elections that were marred by widespread allegations of fraud when incumbent Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner, urged diplomats to provide direct support to the Belorussian people and to consider lifting visa restrictions for Belorussian citizens.

She and other members of the Belarus opposition were recently awarded the Sakharov Prize, given to those who have dedicated their lives to the defense of human rights and freedom of thought.