Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the Delphi Economic Forum and called on the international community to hold a high-level conference on Belarus, help bring to justice all perpetrators of human rights violations in Belarus. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called to stop violence and keep Belarus on the international agenda.
During the meeting with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked him for not recognizing Lukashenka and that the Greek Ambassador didn’t present credentials to Lukashenka. Leader of democratic Belarus and Minister Dendias discussed the last meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, the adoption of the fourth sanctions package and the EU Comprehensive Plan for Belarus, and the establishment of an international coalition in support of Belarus.
“Minister Dendias assured me that all EU countries support Belarusians in our struggle, do not recognize Lukashenka as a president, and that the issue of sanctions and the Comprehensive Assistance Plan will be resolved soon. We are glad to have such allies. And we will continue to mobilize political support not only of Europe but also of the world”, – said Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Later, leader of democratic Belarus met with the President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, and this is the first contact with that country. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked North Macedonia for imposing sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime and actively supporting Belarusian civil society. Since January 1, 2022, North Macedonia will become a member of the OSCE Troika, so it is important to build a partnership already – for lasting relations with new Belarus.
On the meeting with former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed pressure on the regime and how to raise the issue of Belarus in the Council of Europe, described the situation with political prisoners in Belarus and the mobilization of the international community to exert maximum pressure on the regime, release political prisoners as soon as possible. Mr. Papandreou has Belarusian roots, his great-grandfather Zigmuntas Mineika was a participant in the Kalinouski Uprising of 1863. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya invited the politician to visit Belarus, the homeland of his ancestors, after the victory of democratic forces.
