During her visit to Melbourne, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and representatives of the Belarusian diaspora visited the Parliament of the State of Victoria to meet with local MPs.
In Australia, the parliaments and governments of individual states have broad powers. During the meeting, the participants discussed simplified procedures for legal stay and residency for Belarusians in Australia, a parliamentary group to support democratic Belarus, and possible financial assistance for the International Humanitarian Fund that supports the repressed in Belarus. They also discussed the rehabilitation of Belarusian volunteers who fought for Ukraine and are now in need of medical care – similar programs already exist for Ukrainian veterans.
During the visit, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also met with a group of Australian students, telling them about the situation in Belarus and the Belarusian people’s struggle for freedom and democracy. At the end of the meeting, she presented the parliament with a white-red-white flag as a symbol of friendship.
