At the Munich Security Conference, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Wolfgang Schmidt, Head of Olaf Scholz's Chancellery. They discussed the future of security in the region.
They discussed:
– forming a coalition in support of a democratic Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged Germany to become the leader of such a coalition to ensure a peaceful transition of power, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the development of a plan for Belarus' reconstruction, and a Marshall Plan for Belarus;
– supporting the democratic movement and pressuring the regime to release political prisoners;
– developing a consistent European strategy, as well as a consistent sanction policy targeting the regime and its wallets, not Belarusians, and maintaining mobility for the people.
The parties discussed the efforts to remove several officials and oligarchs close to Lukashenka from the sanction list. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya stated that this would lead to greater impunity. Lukashenka is trying to intimidate Belarusian society through repression and regain his imaginary legitimacy through some international contacts. This must not be allowed to happen, and a consistent position of all EU countries is needed.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Germany for continuing to issue visas in Belarus and being consistent in its non-recognition of Lukashenka, but a united EU position is needed on these issues, as well as communication between democratic Belarus and the European community.
