Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as the elected leader of the Belarusian people is convening the New Belarus Conference. Preparations for the Conference began back in April, but the format was finalized only in July. Representatives of various political groups are taking part in organizing the Conference. Political, social, and cultural figures are invited to participate to discuss how to preserve Belarus’ independence, lead the country out of the crisis, and direct the country to the democratic path of development.
Today, the democratic forces face five challenges:
1. remove the illegitimate regime from power,
2. release and rehabilitate all those imprisoned on political grounds,
3. defend the independence and secure the withdrawal of alien troops from the country,
4. hold free and fair elections,
5. establish democratic institutions within the country.
All members of the democratic movement seem to agree on these points. But there is another vision of what tactics are most effective, and what paths should be followed to achieve these goals.
– Who is this conference for?
For all Belarusans, but first of all, it is to give answers to those Belarusans who stayed in Belarus on what can and should be done for changes in Belarus. After all, change concerns all Belarusans, both those who were forced to leave and those who stayed.
– What results can we expect from the Conference?
The Organizing Committee decided to hold the meeting in the format of a conference rather than a congress, which means that no voting on documents and decisions is planned. The speakers of each panel are expected to express a common vision of strategic priorities, transition period, reform of the democratic forces, and assistance to civil society. Each panel is expected to agree on something. These could be specific documents or plans for further action. The Conference is expected to start with the reform of the Coordination Council and the establishment of the United Transitional Cabinet, which will include representatives of various structures.
– Who is on the Organizing Committee?
The political Organizing Committee makes all major decisions on the content of the Conference, including the speakers. The Committee members represent the broadest spectrum of the political and social sphere of Belarus. The political Organizing Committee consists of 18 people – representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, National Anti-Crisis Management, Coordination Council, Honest People, Supratsiu, BYPOL, political parties, and the expert community, including Pavel Latushka, Dzmitry Shchygelski, Alexander Dabravolski, Aliaksandr Azarau, Valery Matskevich, Alena Zhyvahlod, Volha Kavalkova, Uladzimir Astapenka and others. Not all names are disclosed, including for security reasons.
– Who will attend the Conference?
The brightest representatives of Belarusian society from different social groups and different views will attend it. Primarily, these people are open for dialogue and put forward successful initiatives. 48 experts, 45 representatives of the business community, 128 representatives of the public sector, 49 representatives of the media community (including bloggers), 25 former political prisoners or family members of current political prisoners, and 59 representatives of political structures were invited. 153 applications were submitted via the free registration form. A total of 321 people and 51 media representatives confirmed their participation in the Conference.
– Who selected the Conference participants? Why was someone rejected?
Since space in the room is limited, it is impossible to accept all applications. Conference participants were selected by a working group consisting of representatives of three structures and established by the Organizing Committee. The criteria include: one organization may delegate only one representative; the organization must be active (if it is not an individual initiative); the person must be willing to arrive at their own expense. Some people were turned away for security reasons.
– Why were the Conference participants not democratically elected through the nomination of delegates at meetings?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Organizing Committee discussed the possibility of delegating. Organizing such meetings is impossible in today’s Belarus. At the same time, it takes time to develop a digital mechanism for such a procedure. A Congress is planned for the future, with delegates nominated in this way to make important decisions for Belarus. However, this does not mean that the participants of the New Belarus Conference do not represent anyone – all the guests and delegates represent successful initiatives, organizations and projects. And those not invited were able to register through the self-nomination form.
– Who selected the speakers and the topics?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya proposed the topics, and the Organizing Committee approved the speakers. It was emphasized that the panels must represent the widest possible range of initiatives and people with different political views. Each panel is a discussion, an argument, but the goal is that at the end of each panel something is agreed and there is a concrete result.
– Why are there so few women?
It is a great disappointment that so few women are represented in the political debate on the first day. Especially given the role of women and their role in the 2020 protests and events. Some female speakers turned down invitations for personal or security reasons. We will do our best to correct the distortions in the interactive part of the conference, where there is interaction with the audience, and on the second day.
– Where can I see the conference program?
See the conference program at: https://conferencenewbelarus.org.
– How can I participate?
If you are an accredited conference guest, you will be able to participate in all parts of the program. After each panel discussion, questions are scheduled to be asked by the moderator either from the audience or from viewers of the online live stream. In between the panel discussions, the presenter will chat with conference attendees, who will be able to comment, criticize, or share ideas. Throughout the Conference, there will be an interactive system allowing every participant to speak and even vote. The Conference will be live streamed on YouTube with an open chat room. No additional registration is required to view and participate.
– Why were the questionnaires collected before the Conference?
The questionnaires were collected to understand Belarusians’ expectations from the Conference and collect ideas about what the democratic forces should do to achieve change in Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office analyzed the questionnaires, and some of the ideas will be included in the discussions. In total, we received over 1,000 questionnaires. A full analysis of the questionnaires will be made and presented after the Conference.
– What other events will take place following the Conference and on the occasion of August 9?
Representatives of the democratic forces are scheduled to meet with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on August 8. On August 9, at 16:30 at Vilnius Cathedral, a service and a rally are planned in memory of the killed Belarusians, victims of the Lukashenka regime and volunteers killed in Ukraine. A theatrical performance is planned at 17:30 on the Cathedral Square, and a rally and a procession at 18:30. The democratic forces are also expected to meet with the diplomatic corps and the Belarusian diaspora. Day of Dignity events will be held in other countries. Belarusians will rally in 27 cities across Europe and the US. Follow the planned events at the link: https://dze.chat.
