On March 18th, 2021, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya started preparations for negotiations with international mediation to overcome the political crisis in Belarus and called Belarusians for electronic voting.
Belarusians are asked to vote via platform “Voice” (“Golos”) to authorize Tsikhanouskaya to prepare a negotiation process with regime’s representatives for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Belarus. The first results of the votes will be announced on Freedom Day in Belarus taking place on March 25th.
Negotiations should be scheduled for May. The leader of democratic Belarus believes that these negotiations will lead to a new free and fair election this fall. As a precondition, the demands of the people and democratic forces remain the same: the regime must stop violence and release and rehabilitate all political prisoners. Tsikhanouskaya expects that international organizations such as the OSCE or UN will offer mediation, a calendar of negotiations, and a platform for dialogue. The negotiations will be supported by international leaders and institutions.
The current crisis in Belarus has one reason: a rigged presidential election. On August 9, 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya reportedly won the election. Lukashenka lost the election and falsified the results, refusing to leave his post. Since that day, Belarusians have been peacefully protesting against the state terror, repressions, fighting for democracy and freedom. The basic contradiction at the core of the crisis is that the former president is trying to stay in power against the will of the voters. To resolve this contradiction, a new free and fair presidential election needs to be held on the basis of negotiations.
