Alexander Lukashenko

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the sanctions are key to transitioning from President Alexander Lukashenko's administration to one supported by pro-democracy proponents.

"Don't hesitate in putting sanctions on the cronies of the regime, on the wallet of the regime, to stop this violence as soon as possible," Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said.

Lukashenko has led the authoritarian government of Belarus since 1994 and has been accused of antisemitism on multiple occasions in the past.

The country's refusal to cooperate on halting illegal migration is retaliation for the EU placing economic sanctions on Belarus.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warned the European Union on Tuesday night that Belarus would no longer protect neighboring states Lithuania, Latvia and Poland from immigrants illegally passing through the borders.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she believes President Alexander Lukashenko's decision to divert the Ryanair flight was "a mistake" that turned the West against him.

"The only solution to the crisis in Belarus can be free elections," Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said.

He made the comments during a meeting to discuss the country's military.

"We need to wait until the economic situation worsens ... and people take to the street for a bowl of soup, to put it bluntly," Pratasevich said.

"He was threatened with the persecution of his family if he didn't admit himself guilty," opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya said about activist Stepan Latypov.

Belavia director Igor Tcherginets said: "It is evident that these governments planned not only to close their countries for landing by our airplanes, but also, with an especially fascist perversity, they are closing air corridors one by one."

"The EU has made a political decision to introduce sectoral sanctions in an apparent attempt to ruin our economy and create conditions for the repeat of coup attempts," Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said.

The hijacking of a plane by Belarusian authorities to arrest a journalist is the latest violation of European and NATO protection of dissidents by authoritarian leaders.

Thousands of Belarusians, fleeing political unrest in their home country, have taken refuge in Lithuania since nationwide protests against the regime of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko began.

"Belarus produces a great deal of potassium, is one of the world's biggest suppliers," Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said. "I think it would hurt Lukashenko a great deal if we accomplished something there."

The State Department advisory warns against travel to Belarus due to "the arbitrary enforcement of laws, risk of detention and COVID-19."

Lukashenko said the journalist and his associates were working with foreign intelligence agencies to "organize a massacre and a bloody rebellion in Belarus."

"I acted in a lawful way, protecting people in line with international rules," Lukashenko said.

Alexander Lukashenko told the Belarusian parliament that his country faced a "multifaceted, multilevel terror."

World leaders from the U.S., Canada, the EU and elsewhere have all made statements condemning Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's actions.

"We do not know where he is and in what condition," Svetlana Tikhanouskaya said on Monday.

"It's an independent state. If they see a threat to their security, then they must fight this threat," said Russian lawmaker Leonid Kalashnikov.

Lithuania-based journalist Roman Protasevich was arrested in Belarus after his plane was forcibly landed in Minsk.

"Any violation of international air transport rules must bear consequences," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Betting the United States wouldn't agree to the terms, Lukashenko said Belarus would hold an early election on the same day as the U.S.

The film has been viewed nearly four million times on YouTube and outlines the authoritarian leader's palaces and cars.

As protesters pivot to more local action awaiting the spring thaw, activists and journalists are trying to weather the vindictive authoritarian regime.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya tells Newsweek of her opposition fight against Alexander Lukashenko who hinted on Friday he may stand down.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told Newsweek she hopes the president-elect "will fulfill his promises" to target the strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko.

The Democrat condemned the "appalling human rights abuses" and called for tougher sanctions against the Lukashenko regime.