French officials offer assistance to Belarusian opposition leader

French officials offered support Tuesday to visiting Belarusian opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich, and praised his courage in resisting authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Milinkevich met with Catherine Colonna, the French minister in charge of European affairs, and other French officials. He also attended a session of NATO's parliamentary assembly.

Photo: Alexander Milinkevich

Alexander Milinkevich

" France marks its support for Mr. Milinkevich, and praises his courage and determination," a French Foreign Ministry official said.

Alexander Milinkevich

Milinkevich also met representatives of French nongovernmental organizations working in Belarus . Milinkevich ran in March 19 presidential elections that Lukashenko won by a wide margin and that the opposition and Western observers and governments called illegitimate. Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet republic with an iron fist since 1994. Milinkevich was freed from jail earlier this month after serving a 15-day sentence for taking part in an unsanctioned rally, reports the AP.

N.U.