Russia’s Minister of Economic Development recently announced the preparation of a new integration package with Belarus for 2024-2026. Analysts expect the dictators to sign the agreements in 2024. The content of the documents is unknown.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “For years, the regime assured us that living in harmony with all neighboring countries is important. But what is happening in reality? Lukashenka is deteriorating relations with Europe by supporting the aggressor country in the war, orchestrating a migration crisis, and trying to intimidate Western neighbors with nuclear weapons. And our country’s dependence on Russia only keeps growing. Each integration package, the details of which are hidden from the people, takes away a share of sovereignty from Belarus, as this is how Lukashenka pays for Russia’s support in maintaining power. But it is actually the people who are paying this price, not the regime.
Belarusians are paying for integration with Russia by giving up comfort and security and experiencing economic instability and isolation from the civilized world. “Russia means war and poverty”, were the words Belarusians wrote on posters when they protested against integration in 2019. And the reason is that we want to live in an independent country, a country of social and economic prosperity. True prosperity comes when the country pursues policies that address the national interests, discovers new opportunities, attracts international investments, and has partners worldwide, not sells its sovereignty piece by piece to a different country.
This is why democratic forces are already taking practical steps to reform Belarus. We see Belarus as part of Europe. Today, we are launching the Belarus-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in Washington, and I am confident that consultations and support from our Western partners will help us achieve our goal more quickly.
Dear Belarusians, each of us can take action to prevent the Russian absorption of our homeland. All it takes is making a daily choice in favor of the Belarusian language, our independent media, domestic businesses and initiatives. Do not forget: the future of our country depends only on us”.
