Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet, Valery Kavaleuski and Pavel Latushka, held talks with the Minister for European Affairs of Poland, Adam Szłapka.
During the meeting, they discussed opportunities for cooperation as Poland will take over the presidency of the EU Council in 2025, preparations for which have already begun. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya asked the minister to support the European perspective for Belarus and make Belarus one of the priorities during the EU Council presidency next year.
The parties discussed the European Union’s strategy vis-a-vis Belarus, which should include four parts:
- Support for Belarusians.
- Pressure on the regime.
- Accountability for perpetrators of crimes.
- A vision for the future, specifically the European perspective for Belarus.
The Belarusian leader also called for abandoning the “empty chair” practice, where Belarus is not represented at all at international events. She emphasized that the democratic forces should be invited to European bodies and their events so that Belarusians’ voice is heard there.
Representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet raised issues of sanctions against the regime, mechanisms for holding perpetrators accountable, and support for Belarusian civil society in Poland.
