Raman Pratasevich’s case:
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Raman Pratasevich’s parents, held a joint press conference with them, and stated: “We have no right to talk about the content of these videos with Raman. We must talk about how to free him and all political prisoners”.
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya appealed to the United Nations, ODIHR, OSCE and called for monitoring of the prisons in Belarus and demanding visits to political prisoners.
International pressure and sanctions:
– Following a meeting with United States senators, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was officially invited to address the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 9. The hearing will take place ahead of the G7 summit and the meeting of the Presidents of the United States and Russia so that Ms. Tsikhanouskaya will announce the position of Belarusian democratic forces. On June 3, the United States imposed sanctions on the Belarus petrochemical complex.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has started an official visit to the Czech Republic, where she is having meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and addressing the Senate. Leader of democratic Belarus had previously visited Estonia and Poland, where she had held meetings with the Presidents Kersti Kaljulaid and Andrzej Duda. Estonia will make Belarus a priority in the United Nations Security Council, where it became the chairman on June 1 and will allocate 1 million euros to support civil society, independent media, and students in Belarus.
– At the invitation of Lithuania and Greece, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya will speak at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on June 21 in Luxembourg, where he will discuss the implementation of the EU Comprehensive Plan of Economic Support to Democratic Belarus as well as the 4th and 5th sanctions package.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made a call with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz after the Stsiapan Latypau incident and suggested that Austria take the initiative to hold a high-level international conference on the topic of resolving the crisis in Belarus. She also called PACE President Rick Dams, Foreign Minister of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, and British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab to discuss pressure on the regime, the launch of investigations into the crimes against Belarusians, and broader sanctions.
– Slovenia officially withdrew its consent to the work of the Belarusian Honorary Consulate in Ljubljana. Italy has refused to accredit the Ambassador of Belarus, appointed by Lukashenka.
Solidarity and assistance:
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called to support the “Peramoga” plan, developed by the Situational-Analytical Center, to mobilize the protest asset. Anyone can join. You can find details of the plan on the website (available via VPN).
– In Warsaw, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met representatives of the Coordination Council and National Anti-Crisis Management, ByPol, and leaders of the working movement in Belarus – Yury Rovau, Dzmitry Tsit, Siarhei Dyleuski. Leader of democratic Belarus conducted a joint press conference with the workers, where together with the representative of Ms. Tsikhanouskaya for Economics, Ales Aliakhnovich told about the Program of support for the participants of the strike movement, people, and business affected by the regime's repressions (read here).
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya supported activists from Zhlobin. On the call, they told her what was happening in their city: more than 20 political prisoners, dozens of families had to flee due to repressions. The activists' job is to support political prisoners and their families. The city has closed communities, its independent telegram channel @free_zhlobin, and an independent newspaper.
– Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Alexander Dabravolski and Head of the Cabinet of Representatives Valery Kavaleuski took part in the call with students. They discussed the regime’s hijack of the Ryanair airplane, safe forms of protests, and support for educational projects. Mr. Kavaleuski also had a call with the OST volunteers. Anyone can become the Office volunteer by filling out a form on the website.
– The OST volunteers sent ~1,000 postcards to political prisoners. They also distribute leaflets and stickers about the mobilization plan “Peramoga”.
– The International Conference “Democratic Elections for Resolution of Crisis in Belarus” was held, in which Belarusian and foreign experts took part. Participants of the conference discussed how to reform the electoral code of Belarus and hold fair elections.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, in interviews with Belarusian and foreign media, spoke about the situation in Belarus: SVT (Sweden), Le Figaro (France), ZDF (Germany), Foreign Policy, Frankfurter Allgemeine (Germany), Reuters, TUT.by, PAP (Poland), Opinio Juris (Italy).
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