On February 8, 2022, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with EU Ambassador Dirk Schuebel and Polish Ambassador Artur Michalski at her office. The regime expelled the diplomats from Minsk for their principled and firm position on the situation in Belarus.
During the meeting, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya:
– thanked the ambassadors for refusing to recognize Lukashenka’s regime and for supporting civil society;
– discussed programs of help for the repressed, support for small businesses, scholarships for students, cultural and media initiatives. Many Belarusians found safe haven in the EU countries, and the Office is working to make them feel comfortable and confident;
– told about initiatives and organizations that still work within the country and about the democratic forces’ campaign against the illegal referendum. Ms. Tsikhnaouskaya stressed that only a new fair presidential election can resolve the crisis, not a fake “referendum”;
– stated that the regime remains a source of instability for the entire region and the world. Attempts to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus will lead to escalation, for which Belarusians are already paying with both their freedom and money.
Russian military exercises in Belarus were also discussed at the meeting.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya: “Belarus is being dragged into a conflict with its neighbors, and the regime is trying to plant the idea in the minds of Belarusians that war is inevitable. I am convinced that diplomacy is enough to resolve the crisis. We will not allow the regime to trade Belarusian sovereignty”.
