Deputy Justice Minister Emil Dechev met with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Justice Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday. He expressed hope that Belarus will return to the political and cultural family of European democratic countries.
"You are a brave woman who is not afraid to stand up to one of the last dictators in Europe. I am impressed how, a few years ago, the people of Belarus stood up for their right to fair and free elections and to democratic development. They have shown how important civil rights and freedom are to them. I believe that when democracy wins, Belarus will be accepted into the international family and will join the most important European organizations," Dechev said.
Dechev and Tsikhanouskaya discussed the situation with Belarusian citizens who are persecuted by [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko’s regime and are forced to live outside the borders of their country. She described the fate of about half a million Belarusians living outside their homeland as a looming international humanitarian crisis. Tsikhanouskaya gave examples of how the Lukashenko regime is using the tools of international institutions, such as Interpol, to persecute dissidents and oppositionists. Dechev pledged to address the problems of Belarusian citizens residing on the territory of Bulgaria.
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