Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the World Economic Forum in Davos. She thanked the Spanish leader for the support and solidarity that the country systematically renders for Belarusians.
The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez expressed his full support to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Belarusian democratic forces. He also stressed that during Spain's presidency of the European Union, the issue of Belarus will be at the top of the agenda, while Spain will communicate with the representatives of the democratic forces, not the regime.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also met with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
At the meeting with the FM, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the ongoing trial against members of the Coordination Council, Ales Bialiatski, Andrzej Poczobut, and TUT.BY journalists. She also talked about the new charges against Siarhei Tsikhanouski. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya noted that both the situation with political prisoners and the new trials must remain on the agenda.
Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs assured Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya that the country will not recognize the court rulings, just like the Lukashenka regime's new legislation allowing the deprivation of citizenship, as the regime has no legitimacy. Spain will continue issuing visas to Belarusians in Minsk, regardless of Lukashenka's decision.
Mr. Albares and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the need to develop a new EU-level strategy for Belarus and agreed to discuss it with other EU ministers in the near future. They also talked about temporary documents for Belarusians who have relocated to the EU countries and do not support the regime.
A rehabilitation program for repressed Belarusians will be launched in the coming months as a result of the meeting. The first families will soon go to Spain for a period of six months to a year. The Spanish government will fully fund the program. It will provide systematic support to the repressed.
