Azernews.Az

WARSAW – Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko is clinging to power against the will of his people just as some Arab leaders are doing, but he too will eventually be forced to flee, Poland's foreign minister said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Addressing an international donors' conference called to raise funds for pro-democracy groups in Belarus, Radoslaw Sikorski drew parallels between Belarus, which suppressed protests in December, and the turmoil in Egypt and Tunisia.

"President Lukashenko, you are losing (power)... Sooner or later you will be forced to flee your own country, chased by your own people, to seek asylum in another country," he said.

"After developments in Tunisia and Egypt, this is becoming even more evident. In Minsk too, you will have to keep an aircraft ready for quick take-off at any time," Sikorski said, in a clear allusion to the recent flight into exile of Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

On Monday, the European Union and the United States slapped new sanctions on Belarus in response to Lukashenko's crackdown on the protests in December after his disputed re-election.

They include a travel ban on Lukashenko and about 150 officials and the extension of a list of people affected by an EU asset freeze to include those involved in the crackdown.

Western governments, including Poland, have urged Lukashenko to free scores of protesters held after the Dec. 19 vote, judged as fraudulent by the opposition and international monitors.

"President Lukashenko did not win this election," said Sikorski, adding that Belarus's opposition parties should draw inspiration from Poland's Solidarity movement which overthrew communism here in 1989.

"My second messge is for the people of Belarus. You are in Europe and Europe is with you. We will not cease supporting you," Sikorski said.

Poland, a member of the EU and NATO, believes it has a special responsibility to support democratic changes in its eastern neighbour Belarus, a country of 10 million people.