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Anti-Lukashenka organization launched in Ukraine's Lviv

An organization seeking to contribute to "fight against Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime" has been launched in Ukraine.

Called Belaruski Tsentr (Belarusian Center), the Lviv-based group is led by Vyachaslaw Siwchyk, a prominent Belarusian opposition activist who moved to Ukraine to escape the Belarusian government's crackdown on political opponents.

As Mr. Siwchyk told BelaPAN, the group will work to help pro-democratic forces unite and forge closer ties between Belarus and Ukraine.

"In the first place we want to establish cooperation with Ukrainian politicians, hold cultural and historical events so that Lviv residents learn the truth about Belarus," he said, noting that the group would inform the Ukrainian public about the political situation in Belarus, including the presence of political prisoners and the persecution of government critics.

He noted that similar organizations could be created in more Ukrainian cities. "We would like what we do here to help Belarusians, the people held behind the bars at present and those who still take to the streets for protests," Mr. Siwchyk said.