On June 22, a briefing dedicated to the work of Belarusian democratic and civil society organizations took place in Vilnius for representatives of Ireland. The Irish side was represented by Ireland’s Ambassador to Lithuania, Seadhna MacHugh.
From the Belarusian side, participants included the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Volnyja, the A Country to Live In Foundation, the Coordination Council, the Belarusian Council for Culture, and former political prisoners Eduard Palchys and Kim Samusenka. The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was represented by the Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation and Constitutional Reform, Anatoli Liabedzka.
Representatives of the NGOs presented their work and outlined their current needs across a range of areas. These included cooperation with people inside Belarus, support for independent media and civic initiatives, cultural projects, and new opportunities for Belarusian youth.
The participants also discussed preparations for a conference on Belarusian culture planned for October, as well as possible formats for participation and support from international partners.
Following the briefing, Irish representatives received informational materials and documents containing proposals from Belarusian NGOs. These focused on continued support for civil society and ensuring that Belarus remains on the European agenda.
The meeting took place ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is set to begin on July 1, 2026.
Anatoli Liabedzka: “It was important for us that representatives of Ireland hear directly from Belarusian NGOs about how they work today, the challenges they face, and the support they need. We presented concrete materials and proposals across a range of areas — from cooperation with people inside the country to cultural projects and opportunities for young people. We hope these issues will be taken into account during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union”.
