Belarusian opposition politician Tsikhanouskaya: 2020 year Belarusian people united

Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Wednesday 2020 was the year the Belarusian people "united" to "fight for their rights".

She said President Alexander Lukashenko's regime had failed to be recognised around the world as the legitimate government of Belarus following the August election.

Tsikhanouskaya, the wife of jailed blogger Sergei Tsikhanouvsky, was thrust into the international spotlight when she successfully registered to run as a presidential candidate against incumbent Lukashenko.

Her defeat with a little over 10% of the vote sparked months of anti-government protests and international criticism over widespread allegations of voter fraud.

It's crucial for peaceful protests to continue in any form, whether neighborhood marches, flashmobs, or various performances,she said from Vilnius in Lithuania, where she went after the vote under pressure from authorities.

"We should not allow the regime or anyone else to say that the protests have deflated because this is not the case, they have merely changed their form and this is normal," Tsikhanouskaya added.

(IMAGE CREDITS:AP)