Belarus' Tsikhanouskaya says Macron offered help

French President Emmanuel Macron met Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius Tuesday (September 29) on the second day of a visit to Baltic countries meant to reassure them about French commitment to their security.

"He promised us to do everything to help with negotiations, (during) this political crisis in our country...and he will do everything to help to release all the political prisoners," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters in English after the meeting in Vilnius.

On Monday (September 28), on his first day in Vilnius, where Tsikhanouskaya fled into exile, Macron urged Belarus authorities to stop unlawful arrests, release protesters detained arbitrarily and respect election results.

He had urged Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to go on Sunday (September 27), hardening his stance as tens of thousands marched in Belarus for a seventh straight weekend to demand Lukashenko quit.

Tsikhanouskaya fled Belarus after the Aug. 9 election that the opposition said was rigged.