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“Obviously he has to withdraw,” Macron told the French weekly Journal du Dimanche before his visit to Lithuania and Latvia, which border Belarus.
“It is a crisis of power, of an authoritarian government that cannot accept the logic of democracy and that seeks to survive by force. It is obvious that Lukashenko has to retire. “
Opposition leader Sviatlana Cichanouskaya has protested since the August 9 elections, although Lukashenko claims she has won a landslide victory and tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Belarus to protest.
ZUMAPRESS.com/Protest against Aliaksandr Lukashenko
The Lukashenko regime has taken brutal measures against the protesters, which have resulted in the condemnation of the West but the support of Moscow.
He made a secret inauguration this week, sparking new demonstrations and a new wave of Western criticism.
Macron said Sunday that “the bravery of the protesters made a great impression on him.”
“They know how to risk participating in demonstrations every weekend, but nevertheless they do not give up their efforts to restore democracy in their country, which they have taken away from them for so long,” he said.
“The women who hold marches every Saturday deserve our special respect,” added the French head of state.
According to an NGO, more than 90 people, mostly women, were arrested during opposition demonstrations on Saturday.
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