Exiled opposition leader accuses Belarus of provoking neighbors

Belarusian exiled opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, accuses President Alexander Lukashenko of trying to provoke neighboring countries amid escalating tensions along its eastern borders. Warsaw has increased security along the Poland-Belarus border after reporting the relocation of Belarusian combat helicopter units and Russian Wagner mercenaries closer to Polish territory, raising fears of possible provocations and infiltrations. Tsikhanouskaya addressed exiled opposition figures at the 'New Belarus 2023' conference in Warsaw, discussing the future vision for Belarus, reforms, accountability for crimes, and restoring relations with neighbors. Tsikhanouskaya, the main challenger in the disputed 2020 presidential election, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in May on charges of "conspiracy to take power unconstitutionally."