In a video message posted on social media on Wednesday, Zbigniew Rau said: "Our dear neighbours, Belarusians. It's been three years since the fraudulent presidential elections in your country. We remember your steadfast resolve. In the face of great dishonesty, you have shown your willingness to live in a free and democratic state."
Rau added: "Your resistance was met with brutal retaliation. The regime’s violence hit a large part of society. Mass arrests, beatings, intimidation, and even killings. This is how the authorities respond to citizens' desire to live in dignity."
Rau also said in his message that "Belarusian society, including the Polish national minority, has been deprived of opportunities for normal development" and that hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have left their homeland, "fleeing repression and a lack of prospects."
"For most of this great migration, it's Poland that has become a safe haven," he said.
"In our country, you can pursue your skills and entrepreneurship although we understand and many of you want to return home as soon as possible," Rau added.
He told Belarusians that, although "the spiral of violence continues," he was confident that one day their free homeland would welcome them back "so that it can fully prosper and thrive."
"Poland supports your country's hopes and European aspirations," Rau declared.
'We deeply value your steadfast support': Tsikhanouskaya
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya tweeted in response: "To our neighbors and friends in Poland - we deeply value your steadfast support for the people of Belarus. Poland has become a safe haven for many Belarusians fleeing repression. Proud of the strong friendship that unites us."
In a separate post, Tsikhanouskaya appealed for further international support for her country, "for political prisoners, for every Belarusian yearning for freedom."
"Our strength is in unity; together, we will prevail," she said.
In March, a court in the Belarusian capital Minsk sentenced Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in prison after a trial in absentia, as the Belarusian government continues its efforts to suppress dissent, news agencies have reported.
In August 2020, Tsikhanouskaya ran against Belarus’ strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko in a presidential election in which Lukashenko was declared the winner, but which was widely regarded as rigged.
The official results of the vote sparked the biggest protests in Belarus’ history, while Lukashenko launched a massive crackdown on demonstrators, accusing the opposition of “plotting to overthrow the government,” according to reports at the time.
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Source: IAR, PAP, AP, Reuters