The Belarusian opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, won the annual "John McCain" prize, presented by the non-governmental American International Republican Institute, in a ceremony held yesterday via the Internet.

During the ceremony, Tikhanovskaya said, "Violence must stop, and a peaceful transition to free Belarus must begin. This is our mission and the only way forward."

This year, the award was also awarded to US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, as well as to representatives of the Hong Kong protest movement, and to Ugandan parliamentarian and musician Bobby Fine (real name Robert Kyagulani Sentamu).

The International Republican Institute is a non-profit organization that declares its goal to help individual countries build democracy. The institution was previously run by former Republican Senator John McCain, who passed away in 2018.

The Foundation works closely with the US State Department, and many institutions that fund pro-American political forces around the world.

Source: TASS

By:Nadeemy Haded