Macron promises Belarus mediation but Putin slams 'pressure'

APD NEWS

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French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday promised to help with mediation in the political crisis in Belarus, but Russia's Vladimir Putin lashed out against "unprecedented external pressure."

Macron spoke during a visit to Lithuania after meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya that was being seen as a major show of support for the activist.

"We will do our best as Europeans to help mediate and we will come back to OSCE mediation in order to progress," Macron told reporters, referring to an offer from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

"Our objective is for this mediation to begin in the next few days or weeks," Macron said.

"The aim is a peaceful transition, the release of people who are in prison for their political opinions and the holding of free elections under international observation," he said.

Belarus has been in upheaval since an August 9 presidential election in which Tikhanovskaya claimed victory against the incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994.

Tikhanovskaya fled to Lithuania in the aftermath of the election as mass protests in the streets of the former Soviet republic were met with a crackdown in which thousands were arrested.

Meanwhile, Putin said in televised remarks that Belarus is in a "difficult situation" and facing "unprecedented external pressure."

Putin has promised to provide Lukashenko with security assistance if the political crisis worsens and gave Belarus a loan of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Lukashenko has accused various Western countries and NATO of attempting to destabilize his country or support the protest movement.

Addressing a forum on the Belarusian and Russian regions, the Kremlin chief said that Moscow was ready to stand by Minsk, describing ties as "timeless and all-weather."

(CGTN)