by Miceál O’Hurley
MINSK – A man derisively described as ‘The Last Dictator in Europe’ deprived his nation of freedom by stealing an election from the democratically elected Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya last year. Imprisoning civil society actors, journalists and even elderly grandmothers for exercising free speech, and going to the extreme for forcing down and Irish passenger airliner on route to Lithuania in order to arrest a journalist, lacking in democratic authority, Alexander Lukashenko uses force to retain power.
Today, the people of Belarus invite the world to stand with them in solidarity, using the hashtag #StandWithBelarus.
Diplomacy in Ireland – European Diplomat has taken a firm Editorial position to support the people of Belarus in their pursuit of freedom and to have their democratically elected government installed immediately. Dictators have no place in Europe or modernity.
Mrs. Tsikhanouskaya has been a guest on ‘In Conversation This Week with Miceal O’Hurley’ and is the recipient of the Diplomacy in Ireland – European Diplomat’s Eleanor Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award and Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour.
