Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in an interview with Deutsche Welle that the European Union (EU) authorities can introduce a visa-free regime for citizens of Belarus immediately after President Alexander Lukashenko leaves office.
According to him, the European Commission is already considering a project on a package of economic and social support for Belarus. It will be launched if the country’s leadership changes. “We must talk with the civil society of Belarus, try to create a certain perspective for it and provide a plan,” Nauseda said.
In addition to canceling visas, he promised to facilitate access to EU financial resources for the republic and provide assistance in the development of civil society institutions. “We will have the opportunity to discuss this plan later at the level of the European Union so that we can start acting,” the politician added.
In Belarus, protests against the results of the presidential elections on August 9, 2020 continue for the seventh month. The actions are harshly suppressed by the police and riot police. Tens of thousands of people were detained, and many spoke of torture and beatings in isolation wards. Four people died in clashes with security officials.