Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
France 24
France 24
Politics

Biden meets Belarus opposition leader, backs 'quest for democracy'

US President Joe Biden meets with Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2021. © AFP

U.S. President Joe Biden met with Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Wednesday morning and expressed support for democracy and human rights in the former Soviet republic.

"I was honored to meet with @Tsihanouskaya at the White House this morning. The United States stands with the people of Belarus in their quest for democracy and universal human rights," Biden wrote in a Twitter post.

Tsikhanouskaya has pressed for stronger action from the United States against President Alexander Lukashenko's government during a visit to the country. She met earlier with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the top U.S. diplomat, and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Last week, she asked U.S. officials to impose sanctions on companies in her country's potash, oil, wood and steel sectors.

"Thank you, @POTUS, for a powerful sign of solidarity with millions of fearless Belarusians who are peacefully fighting for their freedom. Today, Belarus is on the frontline of the battle between democracy and autocracy. The world stands with us. Belarus will be a success story," Tsikhanouskaya wrote in her own Twitter post.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.