Assistance from the international community and external pressure on the regime:
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the EU Council of Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg. Leader of democratic Belarus called for more assistance to independent media, repressed families, and to investigate the plane hijacking and tortures in the country. Following her address, ministers of 27 countries unanimously supported the introduction of the 4th package of financial sanctions and agreed on sectoral sanctions. The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom supported the sanctions on the same day.
– In Brussels, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had meetings with the European Commissioner, Vice Presidents of the European Commission, and proposed to expand the EU Comprehensive Plan for Belarus, to simplify the work conditions for Belarusian small and medium-sized businesses in the EU, and requirements for visas to Belarusians. The possibility of supplying European vaccines to Belarus through charitable organizations was also discussed. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya proposed to create a special assistance program for independent media, including regional ones.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya supported the letter of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation to the International Olympic Committee with the appeal to deprive Belarusian National State TV and Radio Company of the right to broadcast the Olympic Games and to give it to the independent TV channel Belsat.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the forum New Belarus against torture and called on the international community for rapid actions and assistance to Belarusians: “Just one day for which the sanctions can be postponed is not comparable to a day in the pressure cell” for Stsiapan Latypau”.
* “Pressure cell” is a prison cell that is specially equipped and designed to force a person to confess guilt through torture and violence, beatings, and various methods of psychological pressure.
Political prisoners and human rights:
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya demanded the full release of Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega: “House arrest is not freedom, they are still under indictment, their every move is still being watched. So they are still held hostage. We will not allow trade in political prisoners and will seek freedom for each of them”.
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya commented on the trial of Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Mikalai Statkevich, and Ihar Losik: “This is not a trial, but a personal revenge”. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s team contacted relatives of political prisoners and thanked the ambassadors of other countries for coming to support political prisoners at the pre-trial detention center”.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Representative on Legal Affairs, Siarhej Zikratski, named five key changes in the law on the legal profession that are “killing” this job in Belarus.
Mobilization and solidarity in Belarus:
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held an online meeting with representatives of the Coordination Council. During the meeting, they discussed a plan of joint actions on how to admit new members to the CC and to strengthen the effectiveness of the Presidium, secretariat, and main staff, so that the work of the Coordination Council continues despite the repressions in Belarus.
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya made a call with representatives of the Workers’ Movement. The members of the movement track who were not included on the sanctions list and through what loopholes the regime tries to bypass the prohibitions. More and more people join the Workers’ Movement. There are already representatives of the Belarusian railway, transport, and healthcare. Also, this week there was a live stream on the Workers’ Movement and the “Peramoga” plan.
– Valery Kavaleuski addressed the Belarusian security officials about the “Peramoga” plan: “Neither Lukashenka nor your generals will make this choice for you and will not be responsible for your life. At the right time, be side by side with Belarusians”.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Belarusian Council for Culture declared the Week of Belarusian Culture from 5 to 11 July and called on Belarusians in the country and the diaspora worldwide to support the week with solidarity actions, exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural events.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya endorsed the project of Belarusian online medicine service “eHealth”, where everyone can get a consultation with repressed doctors, who lost their jobs because of their political views, and support them with donations. The project already has over 3,000 patients. The regime already blocked the payment widget on the platform, but the system works correctly via VPN.
– Leader of democratic Belarus held a call with healthcare workers. The medics warned about a new wave of Covid: Delta Covid variant is already in Belarus. At the same time, there are already much fewer doctors in Belarus due to the repressions. Health workers urged Belarusians to wear masks, disinfect their hands, get vaccinated, and refrain from visiting public places.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in interviews with Belarusians and foreign media told about the situation in Belarus: Financial Times, Belsat, POLITICO, AP News (one, two, three), VICE News, EURACTIV, BBC, DW.
