Zeman supported the Belarusian opposition and wished it success in the fight
President Milos Zeman yesterday expressed personal support for the representative of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Cichanouska, and praised her courage. He wished the opposition victory in the fight against the last European dictator. After being received at the chateau in Lány, the president's spokesman Jiří Ovčáček stated this on Twitter. Cichanouská also met with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (YES) and Pirate Chairman Ivan Bartoš and the Mayors and Independents Movement (STAN) Vít Rakušan. Yesterday evening, she took part in a concert at the Kampa in Prague for Belarusian citizens persecuted by the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.
Ovčáček wrote that Zeman Cichanouské expressed personal support, the support of the Czech Republic and highly appreciated its courage. "He wished the opposition victory in the fight against the last European dictator," the spokesman added.
Similarly on twitter Cichanouská also expressed, she said Zeman had assured her of her absolute support for the democratic movement in Belarus. They also talked about the situation of opposition journalist Raman Pratasevich, who was recently detained by Belarusian security forces after a forced Ryanair landing. They also talked about torture in Belarus or how to support the Belarusian diaspora in the Czech Republic.
Cichanouská began a four-day visit to the Czech Republic on Monday, meeting, among others, with Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) and other representatives of the Upper House or with the Rector of Charles University, Tomáš Zima. She also met former First Lady Dagmar Havel, with whom she spoke about former Czech President Vaclav Havel. "His last letter was sent to Belarusian political prisoners," she said on Twitter. She added that they decided to call on everyone to send letters to people imprisoned by the Belarusian regime.
Today, she met with ten representatives of Czech non-governmental organizations in the Václav Havel Library. She discussed with them the situation in Belarus and the possibilities of supporting those who strive for freedom, democracy and human rights, and therefore face persecution, torture, imprisonment and all kinds of repression, the library.
The visit to Cichanouská is accompanied by stricter security measures. Although she was not automatically entitled to it, the police gave her security. "As a rule, we do not comment on the system of individual protection, however, we can confirm that Ms. Cichanouská was granted protection, based on the evaluation of security risks," said police spokesman Ondřej Moravčík. Cichanouska was brought to Lány by a convoy accompanied by police cars.
On Wednesday, Cichanouská will give a speech in the Senate, meet with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Radek Vondráček (ANO) and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jakub Kulhánek (ČSSD).
Cichanous ran last year against Lukashenko in the August presidential election. According to official results, it won 10.1 percent of the vote. However, many believe that he actually received more votes than Lukashenko, who officially won. The results of the elections are not recognized by many states or the European Union.
Source: CTK
