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  • Visas, Friends of Belarus group, support for volunteer fighters. Results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Italy

    July 08, 2023

    On July 5-7, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Rome, where she met with the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, MPs and Vice Presidents of Parliament chambers, trade unions, experts, and the media.

    The meetings focused on the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, the strategy for the release of political prisoners, sanctions and the isolation of the regime, the upcoming NATO summit, visas for Belarusians, and support for civil society and independent media.

    • As the result of the visit:

    — Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at her residence. It was Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s first reception in Italy at such a high level. It was also an important signal of solidarity and support for democratic and independent Belarus
     — The group For Democratic Belarus, comprising 38 MPs, was established in the Italian Parliament, becoming the biggest parliamentary group of its kind. It will promote the issue of Belarus, hold meetings with Belarusian politicians, public figures, and repressed, elaborate resolutions, and form political positions on Belarus. Members of the group will also take patronage of political prisoners.
    Italy will continue issuing visas for Belarusians
    Italy will consider assistance to Belarusian volunteers fighting in Ukraine.
    – Italy will support statements on Belarus in the final resolution of the NATO summit. It will also consider raising the Belarusian issue in the European Union and UN structures, as well as sanctions against Lukashenka's regime.
    – The Italian and Belarusian sides agreed to cooperate in bringing the regime to justice in two areas: 1) crimes against humanity; 2) kidnapping of Ukrainian children and taking them to Belarus. Investigation through international courts will be sought.
    Italian trade unions will continue to support Belarusian workers and will lobby the government for further steps in accordance with the ILO's decision to use Article 33 against the Lukashenka regime.
    – It was agreed to continue projects for the rehabilitation of the children of repressed, as well as exchange programs and internships for Belarusian cultural figures.
    – Italy will raise the issue of Belarus during its G7 presidency, which begins on January 1, 2024.

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