Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor Franak Viacorka is currently at the Forum for Ukraine in Prague involving EU foreign ministers, Ukrainian FM Kuleba and EU High Representative Josep Borrell. Preliminary information suggests no visa ban will be imposed on Belarusians.
Franak Viacorka: “We shouted – and were heard: the European ministers will not impose visa restrictions on Belarusians. We explained why we should distinguish between the Belarusians and the Lukashenka regime. We said that visas are not for vacations; instead, they are for maintaining ties, for keeping people safe, for scholarships and internships, after all. For Belarusians, visas are not a thing of luxury, but a necessity for supporting the society and defending independence.
This does not mean that the situation will not change: as long as Lukashenka is in power and missiles are launched from Belarus, the European Union will keep considering restrictions. Our mission is to make sure that these restrictions apply to Lukashenka and his entourage, officials and security forces, propagandists and pro-regime oligarchs. We will work on a list for sanctions against individuals. But we will always oppose the isolation of Belarus.
I would like to thank the Belarusian diaspora, Pavel Latushka and his team, representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet, journalists who asked questions, and all those who in recent days have spoken out against the visa restrictions.”
