Arrest of a 2020 Belarusian presidential candidate (12 January 2023)

The announcement of the arrest of Andrey Dmitriev, following the arrest of other candidates from the 2020 presidential election, is a demonstration of the Belarusian authorities’ continued anti-democracy oppression.

We condemn the continued crackdowns, which are taking an increasingly large toll on the men and women who are involved in civic life, as well as those who are demanding free elections.

The trial of the Tut.by journalists, Marina Zolotova and Lyudmila Chekina, is further proof of the ever-intensifying crackdown on free media, in violation of Belarus’ international commitments. We once again call for the release of all of the unjustly detained political prisoners.

On October 6, 2022, during her interview with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs reiterated France’s support for the Belarusian opposition’s fight for democracy and peace, more than two years after the fraudulent Belarusian election on August 9, 2020.