Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her official visit to Canada by meeting with the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, during the Halifax International Security Forum.
The parties addressed the following issues:
- Support for independent media. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked Canada for increased funding for independent Belarusian media, which now totals $1 million. The program is expected to continue next year.
- Contributions to the International Humanitarian Fund. The Belarusian leader invited Canada to join the International Humanitarian Fund to support repressed individuals in Belarus, which has already raised over €2 million.
- Strategic consultations. Canada announced consultations with democratic Belarus. The first session will take place on November 26, covering topics such as aid to the media, efforts to hold the Lukashenka regime to account for its crimes, and support for democracy.
- Support for Lithuania’s referral of the regime’s crimes to the ICC. Discussions included backing Lithuania’s case against the regime in Belarus and the potential arrest warrant against Lukashenka.
- Advocacy for democratic Belarus during Canada’s G7 Presidency.
- Belarus’ future amidst developments in Ukraine. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that Belarus must not be offered as a concession to Russia during negotiations over Ukraine. She called for ensuring the withdrawal of Russian troops and nuclear weapons from Belarusian territory.