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Sir Keir Starmer and Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the need for Western allies to confront the Kremlin-backed Belarusian regime. The Labor leader "expressed his admiration for their courage in the face of violence and oppression" and underlined his party's "strong commitment to a free and democratic Belarus," according to a report from the London meeting. Ms Tsikhanouskaya ran against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the disputed 2020 Belarusian election before being pressured to leave the country.
A Belarusian court sentenced her to 15 years in prison on Monday after a trial in absentia for plotting to overthrow the government.
Ms Tsikhanouskaya urged the UK during her visit not to forget about Belarus as the government focuses on Ukraine.
"The fate of Ukraine and the fate of Belarus are intertwined," he told BBC Newsnight.
Belarus was used as a staging point for the invasion of its southern neighbor by Putin's forces.
The Labor reading of the meeting read: "The two leaders discussed the need for our allies to stand united in the face of the Putin-backed Belarusian regime and the need to increase support for pro-democracy movements in Belarus and elsewhere." .
"They agreed that there can be no lasting peace in Europe without a free Belarus, and that defeating Putin must also mean bringing democracy to the people of Belarus."
They will also work "to maintain global pressure on Belarus and Russia through a coordinated, robust and effective sanctions regime."
In a Guardian article, Ms Tsikhanouskaya said sanctions must "go further" to target "Putin's war machine".
He wrote that the majority of Belarusians “want the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and Belarus.”
The Belarusian politician also met Foreign Minister James Cleverly and Europe Minister Leo Docherty, as well as Boris Johnson.
The former prime minister tweeted that it was a "true honor" "to reaffirm my support for a free and independent Belarus, and also to recognize the heroic contribution of Belarusian volunteers to the fight for freedom in Ukraine."
Ms Tsikhanouskaya told Newsnight that Johnson's "courageous decisions" on Ukraine showed that he "can also defend Belarus."
PA wire
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