In an interview with Polish website Onet, Tsikhanouskaya was asked whether police should face legal consequences over a brutal crackdown on protests by the Belarus authorities. She said: "I am sure that a fair and honest court, which will operate after a new presidential election, will have to conduct a thorough investigation into the genocide that took place in Belarus and issue fair sentences."
Tsikhanouskaya also said that her and the opposition coordination council’s main goal was to establish a dialogue with Belarusian authorities.
Belarusian officials on Tuesday detained two members of the council, which was set up by opponents of strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko after a disputed Aug. 9 election that has sparked nationwide protests.
"Our goal is to start a dialogue with the current government, so that the political crisis in Belarus is resolved as soon as possible and that new elections are organized," Tsikhanouskaya added.
The opposition leader, who has fled to Lithuania for security reasons, said that she "received many phone calls from the leaders of many countries, including Poland. I spoke to the prime minister, who offered me and the people of Belarus support in the fight for our rights."
Belarusian police have rounded up dozens of protesters heading home from peaceful demonstrations, rights groups said on Wednesday, cited by the Reuters news agency.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has invited his country's opposition parties to discuss the situation in Belarus on Wednesday.
Polish Radio on Saturday launched a special news service for listeners in its eastern neighbour.
The leader of the opposition Belarusian Social Democratic Party, Ihar Barysau, was cited as saying on Monday that the new Polish Radio project was helping provide his compatriots with reliable information at a time when many independent websites in that country were being blocked by authorities.
(jh/pk)
Source: PAP