27/03/23 (Agence Europe) – The High Representative of the Union, Josep Borrell, celebrated Belarusians on 25 March, Freedom Day, which commemorates Belarus’ declaration of independence in 1918. “This year it takes on a particular significance in the context of the Lukashenko illegitimate regime’s increasing domestic repressions, and continued actions to undermine Belarus independence and sovereignty by subduing it to Russia and collaborating with its illegal aggression against Ukraine”, he stressed. He cited the UN report on “systemic, widespread and gross human rights violations in Belarus, some of which may further amount to crimes against humanity”. Despite the regime’s “brutal repression”, “the Belarusian people continue to demonstrate exceptional courage in fighting for freedom and their fundamental rights”, he praised. (CG)