Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Franak Viacorka spoke about the results of Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s work trips to Finland, Portugal, and Switzerland in a lifestream of “Country for Life” youtube-channel.
Finland is not only showing solidarity with the Belarusians, and there are concrete plans of support
- Foreign visits are an investment in the future. We hold one meeting, a conversation, a call, and the effect of this call can be now, and in a month, and in six months. A short call to Michael McFaul, the former member of the Obama administration and US ambassador to Russia, led to the fact that now he talks about Belarus every day.
- In Finland, we had meetings with the President Sauli Niinistö, the Prime Minister Sanna Marin, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. The last time someone was received like this had been for the Dalai Lama ten years ago. We talked about Finland organizing negotiations on Belarus’ exit from the crisis and supporting Belarus in the OSCE. Finland has always had a special role in the OSCE.
- In Finland, we agreed to create expert groups, which can include the representatives of the Coordination Council, the European Union, Russia, and, possibly, Lukashenka’s regime, so that we can find scenarios for a peaceful solution to the crisis. Finland is entirely on our side. We have their solidarity and concrete plans of support.
10 years ago, Portugal blocked sanctions against Lukashenka, and now it is doing everything possible for the victory of Belarusians
- The Portuguese didn't know anything about Belarus until this summer. But in August, the Belarusian people won the hearts of the Portuguese. When Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Lisbon, she was almost carried in the arms of all the Portuguese media. The press once again put Belarusians on the front pages.
- Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was only supposed to meet with the Foreign Minister in Portugal, but when the information was leaked to the press, everyone wanted to meet her: former European Commission President Jose Barroso and Prime Minister Antonio Costa. As a young man, he fought against the Salazar dictatorship. And now, he wholeheartedly wanted to pass on the experience of his struggle and victory to Belarus.
- Ten years ago, Portugal blocked sanctions against Lukashenka, and now Portugal says that they will do everything possible to isolate him, help independent media and the entire Belarusian nation.
- It is very important that Portugal is the head of the EU right now. And the Portuguese promised that they would put Belarus on the agenda in Brussels at every meeting of ministers and prime ministers.
Switzerland will not allow the regime to hide money in its banks
- Switzerland has always been a neutral country. But the Switzerland we saw was not neutral. They condemned the human rights violations in Belarus. A campaign in support of Natallia Hersche was held throughout Switzerland. They were impressed by the courage of Natallia Hersche, a Swiss-Belarusian dual citizen.
- When Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaia arrived, the entire press asked about Hersche and how Switzerland could help Belarusians. The answer was simple: pressure on the regime and freezing the accounts of its “wallets”. The next day, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya came to the Swiss Foreign Ministry, and one of the Foreign Ministry leaders replied that all the documents are ready and they are already working on all our requests.
- Investigations and searches for the accounts of the regime's “wallets” are already underway. Those who were included in the third package of sanctions will no longer be able to hide money in Switzerland. There will be no situation in Belarus when the entire treasury will be abroad after the victory of the people.
The “Country for Life” stream with Mr. Viacorka is available in Belarusian.
