On the first day of her visit to Sweden, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with members of Sweden’s delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
During the meeting, she called for practical actions in support of democratic change in Belarus and presented seven key proposals:
- Speak within PACE and the OSCE PA to raise awareness of the situation in Belarus and emphasize the link between security, democracy, and regional stability.
- Coordinate with the Democratic Belarus delegation in PACE to amplify its voice and effectiveness. Sweden could become a key partner in this work.
- Raise the issue of Belarus in the OSCE PA by initiating a report and discussion of violations committed by the Lukashenka regime – including the presence of Russian troops and threats to Belarusian sovereignty.
- Organize events in Sweden and abroad dedicated to political prisoners and the human rights situation in Belarus: exhibitions, debates, cultural initiatives, social media campaigns – and consider becoming “godparents” to political prisoners. Additionally, offer internship opportunities in Parliament for Belarusians.
- Support Belarusians in Sweden by engaging with the People’s Embassies and assisting those facing difficulties with legal status and documents.
- Support accountability initiatives to ensure Lukashenka and his inner circle are brought to justice through international courts, including the International Criminal Court.
- Formalize relations between Belarus’ democratic forces and the Swedish Parliament by supporting the initiative to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Riksdag or a letter of intent.
