“Dear Chair Zsolt Nemeth,
Dear Members of PACE,
Dear Belarusian friends,
I am happy to see that the cooperation between the Belarusian democratic movement and the Assembly becomes more robust every year. And it's great to see representatives of Belarusian parties regularly participating in political committee meetings. I am glad that the voice of Belarusians – not the regime – is present here.
I want to thank the Political Committee and the rapporteur – dear Emanuelis – for the strong, confident language used in the proposed resolution. This resolution and the final declaration of The Reykjavik summit give me confidence that Belarus will remain high on the Parliamentary Assembly’s agenda.
Since the rigged elections in 2020, our goal has not changed: it's a free, independent, and European Belarus. We stay united in opposition to Lukashenka's regime but also imperialist Russia. We stay united in our demands: All political prisoners must be released. All Russian troops must leave Belarus. New free and fair elections must be held.
These goals might seem distant today, but we will only stop once we win our country back.
Dear friends
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 regime creates unbearable conditions for political prisoners. 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 traces of beating. Neither his family nor the lawyers are allowed to see him. Another political prisoner, Mikalai Klimovich, died in prison last month.
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 court.
Unfortunately, the lack of international reaction unties the hands of the regime. For more than a year, no strong sanctions were imposed. Though, the existing sanctions are strong, but not enforced in full due to loopholes. All that creates the feeling of impunity among the regime’s cronies.
Meanwhile, the regime continues to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. It continues to provide training and facilities. More than 130,000 tons of ammunition was supplied by Lukashenka to the Russian army only this year. Constant military drills aimed to distract Ukrainian forces from the counter-offensive.
Last Friday, Putin announced that Russian nuclear weapons were deployed on Belarusian territory. If it is true, it was done against the Belarusian constitution, international non-proliferation regime, and the will of the Belarusian people. On 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.
Russia has been openly interfering in the internal affairs of Belarus. It wants to subjugate our country. It wants to put us on the collision course with our neighbors. This is not about the bilateral relations of two nations. This is an ongoing assault to destroy Belarus as an independent state. Russia needs to receive a clear response that what they do against Belarus is illegal.
Belarusians will never agree under the Russian yoke. Belarusians don’t support the Russian war against Ukraine. Belarusians demonstrate bravery, in fighting Lukashenka’s regime but also helping Ukraine on the battlefields. Many went to Ukraine as military volunteers. Their biggest formation is the Kastus Kalinouski regiment, which currently participates in the Ukrainian counter-offensive.
We can win only when we are united. Last year we created the United Transitional Cabinet joined by prominent political leaders. We cooperate with political parties. Recently reformed Coordination Council became the platform for coordination between political actors and civil society. We are working on a joint strategy to keep all groups aligned.
To connect Belarusians inside the country and those in exile, we have launched the digital platform “New Belarus”. There, Belarusians can participate in the political process, vote, and collaborate. This year, we plan to start issuing new national passports of Belarus. It is supposed to solve the problem of travel documents for tens of thousands of people in exile. Hopefully very soon, we will come to you with a request to recognize this passport. It will deny the regime’s ability to control people’s lives even when they live in freedom.
We understand that changes in Belarus are a task for Belarusians themselves. But we can’t do it alone. We need the support from the international community.
International strategy on Belarus must include four main directions: 1) pressure on the regime; 2) assistance to the democratic movement; 3) accountability for perpetrators; 4) commitment to the European future of Belarus.
- 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, along with Putin. We discovered recently, that Lukashenka took part in the deportation of Ukrainian orphans to Belarus. And I know that the Ukrainian delegation to PACE already drafted the resolution on this case. Lukashenka has a long record of crimes, including crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression, orchestrating a migration crisis, and hijacking a flight. 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. We have resources to sustain but we need resources to win. Support Belarusian culture and language. Russia is doing all possible to eradicate our national identity, the same as it is doing on occupied territories of Ukraine. Strong national identity is the best anti-dote to “Russian world”. As parliamentarians, you can express your solidarity with political prisoners. You can take godparenthood of some of them. Also, support our military volunteers in Ukraine. You can meet them, or the wives of those who were killed in battles.
- Fourth: commitment. We need the European perspective for Belarus. We have to return Belarus to Europe, and Europe — to Belarus. Accessing the European Convention of Human Rights and membership in the Council of Europe will be our first step. We already established a contact group in the Council of Europe. We also have to formalize the presence of Belarusian political parties in PACE. You can grant them the status of observers or special invitees. That would send the right message to Belarusians but also hit Lukashenka's legitimacy.
Invite Belarusians to international fora and events, organize hearings in your parliaments. Join the parliamentary groups of friends with democratic Belarus, they exist already in 18 parliaments.
We must be ready for a new window of opportunity. The regime of Lukashenka is much more fragile than it seems. We must make sure that Belarus takes the European path and cut the dependence on Russia. Belarus will leave the Union State and CSTO. We have to conduct reforms quickly and introduce a new Constitution that will not allow the return of tyranny to Belarus in the future.
We will need the Marshall plan for Eastern Europe which will also include Belarus. Our region needs a comprehensive approach to make sure that the success is shared throughout. Belarus must become the key pillar of Europe’s security and stability, not a constant threat.
Dear friends,
Let me thank you again for your time and attention. Please help us to get Belarus back on the world’s agenda. Don’t leave Belarus for another day. There might not be another day for us. Free Belarus would be the strongest sanction against Putin and crucial help to Ukraine’s victory.
Slava Ukraini!
Zhyve Belarus!”
