The situation in Belarus and the wider region is changing. The United States has successfully secured the release of political prisoners, proceedings against Aliaksandr Lukashenka have been launched in The Hague, Russia is facing strikes on its own territory, and the regime has softened its pro-war rhetoric. At the same time, repression continues, although its forms are evolving. These developments create both new challenges and new opportunities for the Belarusian democratic forces. How can they seize the political initiative and change the status quo?

Moderator:
Roza Turarbekava, PhD, international relations expert

Speakers

1. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-Elect of Belarus, Head of the United Transitional Cabinet
2. Viktar Babaryka, Belarusian civic and political leader
3. Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management
4. Pavel Seviarynets, Co-Chair of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, writer, former political prisoner
5. Artsiom Brukhan, Speaker of the Coordination Council

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's visit to Kyiv in May has opened new opportunities for Belarusian-Ukrainian cooperation. How can Belarusians and Ukrainians support one another? What joint steps can be taken in the near future, and what cooperation is already underway? What should be the priorities for strategic cooperation?

Moderator:
Yevhen Mahda, Ukrainian political scientist, Executive Director of the Institute of World Policy

Speakers:

1. Franak Viacorka, Chief Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
2. Iaroslav Chornogor, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
3. Anatol Mikhnavets, Vice Speaker of the Coordination Council
4. Vadym Halaichuk, Co-Chair of the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “For a Democratic Belarus” in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
5. Sviatlana Shatsilina, Head of the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Kyiv

Moderator:
Kseniya Lutskina, journalist, member of the first Coordination Council, former political prisoner

Topic I. Punish, Not Forgive? Where Should We Draw the Line?

A: Without lustration, vetting and professional bans for everyone involved in repression, we will simply pave the way for the return of authoritarianism. The system of violence will be restored, and its victims will be betrayed. Justice and accountability for perpetrators are the only foundation on which trust in new democratic institutions can be built.

B: If we dismiss or imprison civil servants, security officers and teachers, the country will simply stop functioning: there will be no one to run cities, educate children or maintain critical infrastructure. We need our own "pact of forgetting" and national reconciliation to avoid a new division and ensure a peaceful democratic transition.

Debaters:
Mikalai Dziadok, civic and political activist, blogger, writer, former political prisoner (twice)
Roza Turarbekava, PhD, international relations expert

Topic II. Escaping the "Belarusian Enclosure" vs. Belarus First

A: Forcing — or even gently promoting — the Belarusian language across all spheres of life is an attempt to move forward while looking backwards. In the twenty-first century, success belongs to those who create globally competitive products and compete on the international market. It makes little difference whether the code of a Belarusian start-up, a scientific breakthrough or a business is developed in English, Russian or Belarusian. What matters is efficiency and results. An excessive focus on language confines us to a local space when we should be integrating into the global economy.

B: Globalism without a national foundation leads to complete assimilation and absorption into the "Russian World". If language and culture do not matter, why do we call ourselves Belarusians at all, rather than simply the inhabitants of a certain territory? Without our own identity, we will continue to lose the information and cultural war against Russia. A state that does not protect and develop its language has no future. A Belarusian can create a global product, but if it is disconnected from their culture, its value benefits other countries rather than a New Belarus.

Debaters:
Aliaksandr Fiaduta, public figure, literary scholar, Doctor of Humanities, former political prisoner
Katsiaryna Vadanosava, popularizer of Belarusian history, musician, television presenter

Topic III. Does Neutrality Guarantee Belarus’s Security?

A: For many years, opinion polls showed that many Belarusians viewed neutrality or non-alignment as the best guarantee against being drawn into regional or global military conflicts and geopolitical confrontation. The Swiss model — or a form of "Finlandization", involving limited geopolitical manoeuvrability while preserving economic independence and sovereignty — is often presented as a viable option for living alongside an aggressive and ambitious neighbour.

B: Traditional models of neutrality no longer work in today's world. Even countries that once maintained a non-aligned status are rapidly abandoning it. We have entered an era of new global confrontation, and Belarus can only secure its future as part of a military-political alliance. Whether this means NATO or another regional security arrangement should be determined solely by strategic necessity and the terms of membership.

Debaters:
Andrei Kazakevich, PhD in Political Science, Director of the Political Sphere Institute of Political Studies
Zmitser Mitskevich, journalist at Belsat, national security and defence analyst

Change in Belarus is only a matter of time. Every dictatorship eventually falls. The question is: what comes next? What could a democratic transition look like? Which reforms should be prepared, and is it worth preparing them already today? Can Belarus overcome its total dependence on Russia? What can the European Union offer Belarus, and what can Belarus offer the European Union? We must think not only about what we want to leave behind, but also about the future we want to build.

Moderator:
Aliaksandr Knyrovich, entrepreneur, blogger, TV presenter

Speakers:

1. Dzmitry Kruk, researcher at BEROC
2. Lev Lvovsky, Academic Director at BEROC
3. Alisa Ryzhychenka, Representative for Economy and Finance of the United Transitional Cabinet
4. Anatoli Liabedzka, Director of the European Dialogue Center, Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation
5. Yuliya Mitskevich, gender expert, Office for Social Policy of the United Transitional Cabinet
6. Yury Hubarevich, Chair of the For Freedom Movement, Coordinator of the Personnel Reserve initiative

Moderator:
Maria Lando, expert in civil society organization development

1. Analytical Report: Comparative Analysis of National Dialogues in Germany, Poland, and Spain as Possible Models for Overcoming the Political Crisis in Belarus »

Public presentation of the report, its key findings, and recommendations. The report examines examples of national dialogues — formats in which different political and social forces managed to overcome political crises, agree on reforms, and restore social cohesion.

Presenter:
Artsiom Brukhan, Deputy Head of the People’s Anti-Crisis Management

2. Positive Alternative — A Vision of a New Belarus

Positive Alternative — blueprints for a Belarusian home in the European neighborhood.

Presenter:
Anatoli Liabedzka, Director of the European Dialogue Center, Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation

3. Raionka

An assistance program for vulnerable groups of Belarusians, which will help people connect with Belarusian doctors and receive answers to their questions. The program aims to become an example of strengthening links between Belarusians in exile and inside the country.

Presenter:
Stanislau Salavei, Deputy Representative for Social Policy of the United Transitional Cabinet

4. Try Slany Platform

Presentation of the updated Try Slany Platform. A digital hub for civic and political activity of the pro-democratic Belarusian community, providing convenient tools for engaging with audiences. This summer, the New Belarus team updated the platform’s functionality and design and will present its new opportunities.

Presenter:
Daniel Harkavy, Try Slany Platform / New Belarus

5. Digital Tools of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office

Presentation of two tools for the digital infrastructure of civil society (NGOs, diaspora organizations, and political structures):

1. A closed resource-sharing platform — for equipment, venues, expertise, and other resources — among organizations to strengthen cooperation and mutual support within the sector.
2. An online space (digital map) of Belarusian events and initiatives around the world.

Presenter:
Marharyta Vorykhava, Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Youth Policy and Students

6. Equality, Inclusion, Responsibility: Gender Policy Project for the Democratic Forces of Belarus

A document prepared by a group of Belarusian and international experts following interviews and consultations with representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, and the Coordination Council. It provides recommendations on promoting gender equality, inclusion, and accountability, as well as preventing harassment and discrimination within the democratic forces, across all areas of activity and work, based on the principles and standards of the Council of Europe.

Presenter:
Dr. Graziella Piga, Consultant at the Council of Europe

7. Our Grunwald-2027. Ideas, Goals, Objectives

The “Our Flag over Grunwald!” campaign is an initiative aimed at commemorating and honoring the memory of the warriors who participated in the Battle of Grunwald and originated from the lands of present-day Belarus. The main goal of the campaign is to ensure the presence of Belarusian national symbols — the white-red-white flag and the Pahonia coat of arms — at official venues during the celebrations marking future anniversaries of the victory. Another goal is to increase Belarusian participation in the commemorations through an information campaign, as well as to encourage Belarusian medieval reenactors to take part in an organized and visible way, making Belarusian presence more prominent.

Presenter:
Yery Meliashkevich, Acting Chair of the Belarusian Popular Front Party

8. Belarus Democracy Tokens: Concept for a Self-Financing System for the Democratic Movement

The democratic forces need tools that make self-financing simple and attractive for Belarusians and Belarusian businesses. The presentation will introduce the concept of Belarus Democracy Tokens — a system that records donors’ contributions and provides for recognition of their support in a future democratic Belarus. All interested participants are invited to join the discussion and contribute to the development of this idea.

Presenter:
Alisa Ryzhychenka, Representative for Economy and Finance of the United Transitional Cabinet