Milinkevich Seeks Support At European Parliament
April 06, 2006
Alyaksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the Belarusian opposition (file photo) (epa)
April 6, 2006 -- Opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg to seek support for the opposition against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Speaking in French, Milinkevich said, "Lukashenka is no longer the president of a country. He is a citizen who has power that is not legitimate."
The EU has backed the Belarusian opposition in denouncing the March 19 presidential election as fraudulent.
EU lawmakers, in a non-binding resolution, called on European governments not to recognize Lukashenka as president.
EU leaders meeting in Luxembourg on April 10-11 are expected to consider restrictive measures against Belarusian officials.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry today dismissed the EU criticism as "laughable."
(AP)