“We are still working on the hijacking incident. The lawyers of Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega are still denied access to them. It means that we still do not know under what conditions the hostages are held and how they are treated. But we have seen videos of them being coerced. Yesterday, many Belarusians gathered for the funerals of Vitold Ashurak. The day before, we all saw the video of his death in prison, staged by the security forces, and it does not add to the certainty that his death was not violent. Yesterday we also learned that a 17-year-old orphan Dzmitry Stakhouski committed suicide because the regime persecuted him.
All this violence, lawlessness, and all these deaths are the result of Lukashenka’s illegal hold on power and his impunity. That is why, over the past two days, we have held an emergency meeting of the leaders of the democratic forces. At that meeting, we agreed on the principles of a common strategy: pressure on the regime, reinforcement and support of civil society structures, and work on the draft Constitution. We work as a united movement: we call the international community to recognize the regime as terrorist, and bring all perpetrators to justice. Together, we support initiatives aimed at the economic boycott of the regime and non-violent resistance. We are defending the independence of our country, helping those taken hostage and making Belarus a priority in the EU, the US, the OSCE and the United Nations Security Council. I support French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to invite democratic forces to the G-7 summit programm.
We also insist on the investigation of the crimes of Likashenka’s regime generally and hijacking particularly. I held a call with the Leader of the German Christian Democratic Union, Armin Lashet, on the reaction and actions of Germany. I am deeply grateful that the General Prosecutor of Germany took over personal control of – as he called it – «the protracted violence in Belarus».
Tomorrow in The Hague, I am meeting the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and on Monday, 31 May, I will meet Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid in Tallinn.
We see that the international community continues to impose measures to protect the citizens of its countries from any acts of State terrorism by the regime, as well as to support Roman and Sofia and all Belarusians. Yesterday, I addressed the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and articulated our joint position: we call to deny the regime any financial support, to impose sanctions, to make it clear to Russia and other States that any agreements or contracts signed with the regime, will be reconsidered or cancelled. And, of course, I called for more support for the Belarusian people.
I understand the EU’s decision to close flights over Belarus – it is the safety concern of all Europeans. But we demand the land borders of Belarus to be opened for the free movement of Belarusian citizens, since the regime cannot be allowed to turn the country into a prison for 9 million people.
We announced May 29, the date of Sergei Tsikhanousky detention, as a day of solidarity. On that day, a Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus will be held around the world, with the participation of local politicians and the diaspora. But most importantly – on this day Belarusians within the country are to support each other in every possible way: street actions, symbols, letters to political prisoners.
Yesterday I announced the International Conference on New Elections in Belarus, that will take place on 1-2 June. My Special Representative for elections, Alexander Shlyk, Pavel Latushko, Head of the National Anti-crisis Management, Olga Kovalkova, Member of the Presidency of the Coordinating Council, and other representatives of democratic forces and civil society will take part in the Conference. Representatives of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the United States Congress and the election committees representatives of democratic countries will also participate. We also invited representatives of the regime – after all, the dialogue about new elections is taking place now and in the interests of all citizens of Belarus”.
