July 14, Pozirk. Exiled Belarusians have been avoiding active involvement in politics and solidarity campaigns recently as they fear reprisals targeting their Belarus-based families and properties, opposition politician Franak Viačorka said yesterday.
This development is concerning, as no country will be willing to assist Belarusians if they keep silent and do not make themselves visible, he remarked during a discussion at Tutaka, a Belarusian festival in Poland.
The politician described the new round of politically-motivated persecution by Minsk targeting exiled regime critics’ families as a big challenge. While all Belarusians are aware of reprisals, foreigners may not be well-informed, he noted.
The number of Belarusian emigrants keeps growing and they need to demonstrate that they oppose Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime and support Ukraine, he stressed.
If Belarusians want to be treated differently from Łukašenka’s officials, they must hold rallies, meetings and marches, essential for lobbying support and ensuring the issue of visas, Viačorka stressed.
