Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, and representatives of Belarusian CSOs met with the Director for Eastern Europe at Austria’s Ministry for European and International Affairs, Thomas Mühlmann.
The Belarusian organizations represented at the meeting included:
- the Belarusian Helsinki Committee;
- the Viasna Human Rights Centre;
- the Belarusian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum;
- the Belarusian Council for Culture.
This was the first meeting with Mr. Mühlmann as the department’s director. Participants briefed him on the current situation in Belarus, presented their work, and discussed how to build on cooperation following Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s previous visits to Austria.
The discussion focused on:
- the situation of political prisoners and the ongoing repression in Belarus;
- transnational repression and the persecution of Belarusians in exile;
- support for civil society and cultural initiatives;
- legal stay issues faced by Belarusians in Austria, including expired passports and access to travel documents;
- cooperation between Ukraine and the democratic forces of Belarus.
Representatives of the human rights organizations spoke about the number of political prisoners, the situation inside Belarus, and the persecution of Belarusians beyond the country’s borders. They stressed that while the release of individual prisoners is welcome, it does not resolve the broader problem. Systemic change, an end to repression, and support for everyone who has suffered imprisonment and persecution remain essential.
Among those attending was Uladzimir Labkovich of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, who is a former political prisoner. He shared his personal experience of imprisonment and the challenges he has faced since his release. Persecution against him continues, including new criminal cases.
Representatives of CSOs described how they continue to operate despite repression and exile and maintain contact with people inside Belarus and outlined the types of support they currently need. They also discussed opportunities for cooperation with Austrian partners.
The Belarusian Council for Culture presented an overview of the current situation in the cultural sector and highlighted the work of Belarusian artists in the European context.
Dzianis Kuchynski thanked Austria for joining the International Humanitarian Fund and contributing €20,000 to support political prisoners and other repressed individuals in Belarus:
“It was important for us to establish contact with the new head of the department and continue implementing the agreements reached during Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s previous visits to Austria. We are grateful to Austria for supporting political prisoners, repressed individuals from Belarus, and the broader European policy of pressure on the regime.
We also discussed the situation of Belarusians living in Austria. Expired passports, travel documents, and other legal stay issues have become serious challenges for many people. We understand that there are no simple solutions, but we need to keep looking for them and remain in close contact with the Belarusian diaspora.
Austria is also home to Belarusian cultural figures and professionals from other fields who are unable to return home. We should help them continue their work and maintain their connection with Belarus”.
The participants agreed to turn the initiatives discussed into practical follow-up actions and to continue coordinating at the working level.
