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  • Belarus deserves discussion at the UN Security Council: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Norwegian Foreign Minister

    March 18, 2022

    On March 18, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt with a delegation from the Norwegian MFA in her office. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s previous meeting with the Norwegian minister was at the Munich Security Conference in February.

    Norway has already supported the International Accountability Platform for Belarus that collects evidence of the regime’s crimes, as well as Belarusian media organizations, and joined the EU sanctions packages against the Lukashenka regime. Norway is a member of the UN Security Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

    At the meeting, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Anniken Huitfeldt discussed:

    – the war in Ukraine and the regime’s support for Russia’s invasion. Personal sanctions and complete delegitimization of Lukashenka is needed, as he is no longer a guarantor of the country's sovereignty and is an accomplice in the aggression against Ukraine. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya appealed for the recognition of Belarus as a temporarily occupied country;

    Belarusian Anti-War Movement and the methods of opposing the war and the regime’s actions. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the union of mothers who convince their sons to evade the conscription for possible participation in the war against Ukraine. She also told Anniken Huitfeldt about partisans’ actions and sabotage, which block the movement of Russian military equipment, and about Belarusians’ support for Ukrainians and refugees;

    – the possibility of joint humanitarian and other assistance to Ukraine and Belarusian doctors, volunteers who joined the Ukrainians;

    – the importance of free Belarusian media amidst the regime’s attempts to hide the truth about the situation in the country and the regime-tolerated dominance of Russian propaganda in the information space. In this context, support for Belarusian journalists who cover the true situation in the region for Belarusians is essential;

    – support for civil society, Belarusians within the country, and those who left Belarus or fled from Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stressed that the aggressor is Lukashenka, not the Belarusian people who need visa assistance and help with other legalization-related issues. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya said that Belarusians who fled the war in Ukraine must be treated equally with all refugees, and bank accounts of relocated Belarusians and NGOs must not be closed, as such measures target those fighting against the regime instead of the regime itself;

    – the possibility of raising the Belarusian issue in the UN Security Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya noted that Belarus deserves discussion in the UN Security Council, as the crackdown continues, the situation with human rights is deteriorating, and nuclear weapons might be deployed in the country, which threatens European security. Norway is seeking to raise the issue in the UN Security Council in the near future;

    – the need to extend the special mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate human rights violations in Belarus and bring the perpetrators to justice, as well as the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Belarus. The national leader of Belarus called on Norway to actively support their work;

    – activities of the IAPB platform for collecting evidence of the regime’s crimes. The Belarusian leader called on Norway to support the activities of the project;

    – the complete suspension of cooperation with the regime by the Council of Europe and its strengthening of ties with democratic forces. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that other international organizations and countries should follow this important example.

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