“Dear Excellencies,
I feel that I am among friends today. We all share the same values and the same dream – to live in freedom and peace. And I wish to thank each of you for supporting our cause and our fight for the democratic future of Belarus. Because of your help, the Council of Europe has become an example of success in building a path to a free democratic Belarus.
Since the rigged elections in 2020, our goal has not changed: it's a free, independent, and European Belarus. We stay united in resistance to Lukashenka's regime but also imperialist Russia.
We stay united in our demands: All political prisoners must be released. All perpetrators must be brought to justice. All Russian troops must leave Belarus. Belarusians must be able to choose their leadership at the new free and fair elections.
These goals might seem distant today, but we will stop only once we win our country back. We understand that changes in Belarus are a task for Belarusians themselves. But we can’t do it alone. We need support from the international community, including organizations such as the Council of Europe.
I am glad that the cooperation with the Council has become more robust yearly. We formalized our relationship by creating a Contact group, which includes the representatives of political structures and civil society from Belarus. Yesterday, the Contact group held its third meeting and planned activities for the year ahead. We also agreed that the representatives of Belarus political parties would regularly participate in the PACE Political Committee gatherings. Last month, I took part in the Reykjavik Summit. Though Belarus is not a member of the Council of Europe yet, we are treated as equal partners.
Membership in the Council of Europe is our priority and goal. While Lukashenka’s regime is trying to isolate the country and make it a Russian satellite, we open doors for Belarusians. And we are building strong bonds that will help our country on the uneasy path to democracy.
I wish I could tell you that the situation in Belarus is improving. Unfortunately, it is not. There are two important trends. First: intensified absorption of Belarus by Russia. Second: increased repressions and ill-treatment of political prisoners.
The most worrying is the deployment of the Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus. Last Friday, Putin announced that the first nukes had been delivered already. It was done against the Belarusian constitution, international non-proliferation agreements, and the will of the Belarusian people. On the one hand, Putin aims to blackmail the West to force it to decrease its support for Ukraine. On the other hand, he seeks to secure Russian control over Belarus. This needs an urgent international reaction and condemnation.
Besides that, Russia conducts the policy of Russification of Belarus. Belarus’s language, culture, and history are under attack. It tries to eradicate Belarusian national identity completely. Some people call it occupation; some people call it colonization. No matter what to call it, we must not allow this to happen.
In sum, Russia has been openly interfering in the internal affairs of Belarus. It wants to subjugate our country, to put us on the collision course with our neighbors and to make it an instrument in its criminal projects. This is not about the bilateral relations of two nations. This is an ongoing assault to destroy Belarus as an independent state. And this should concern all in the global community. Russia needs to receive a direct, clear response that what they do against Belarus is illegal. That Belarusians are not alone in their fight for the freedom of their homeland.
We also see the escalation of repressions against Belarusians who don’t support the regime and the war against Ukraine. On average, 15 people are being detained every single day. Activists, journalists, students, officials, teachers, doctors, business people. The human rights defenders lost a count of political prisoners. We know the names of 1500 of them, but the real number can be up to 5000. People who face prosecution can't leave the country safely and definitely can not rely on any justice in the courts.
The regime creates unbearable conditions for those in prisons. Since March 10, I haven’t heard from my husband, Siarhei. Since April, we haven’t heard from Viktar Babaryka, who was brought from prison to the hospital with signs of beating. Neither his family nor the lawyers are allowed to see him. Another political prisoner, Mikalai Klimovich, died in prison last month. The lives of hundreds of people are at stake.
Let’s not have illusions. The regime in Minsk will not change its behavior voluntarily. We need a coordinated strategy that will include four key elements: 1) pressure; 2) assistance; 3) accountability; 4) commitment. Only a combination of these efforts will give the desired effect.
- First, the pressure. We must increase economic and political pressure on Lukashenka’s regime and Russia. Sanctions should be monitored and enforced. We also need to sanction judges, propagandists, and military officials. Athletes that support the regime and war must be denied participation in sports competitions.
- Second: accountability. Lukashenka must be brought to tribunal alongside Putin and all their cronies. Lukashenka has a long record of crimes, including crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression, extrajudicial killings, and hijacking a flight. There is evidence that Lukashenka took part in the deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus. We must deprive Lukashenka of immunity and designate his regime as criminal.
- Third, assistance. It is vital to support Belarusian civil society, media, and democratic forces. In particular, we need support for the work of the Contact group and its programs. Only a vibrant and well-informed society will be able to confront the tyranny of Lukashenka. Yes, we currently have resources to sustain the movement, but we need resources to win.
- Fourth: commitment. We need the European perspective for Belarus. We have to return Belarus to Europe and Europe – to Belarus. Belarusians must feel that they are expected in Europe.
I agree that Europe’s future is being decided on Ukrainian battlefields right now. But I also believe Free Belarus would be the strongest sanction against Putin and crucial help to Ukraine’s victory.
Slava Ukraini!
Zhyve Belarus!”
