Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya finished her visit to Spain, where she met with representatives of the parliament, government, ministry of foreign affairs, the expert community and the Belarusian diaspora. Tsikhaouskaya called on parliamentarians to write letters to political prisoners and create a group of Belarus supporters in the Spanish parliament.
As noted by parliamentarians, for the first time in many years, all parliament parties have a single position. The situation in Belarus has united Spanish politicians of various views. Spain can develop a special policy on Belarus and support national and European sanctions to increase pressure on the regime. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stressed that the European Union could do much more in terms of sanctions and pressure on the regime and called on Spain, together with the EU, to take responsibility for resolving the crisis in Belarus.
The role of Russia in the Belarusian crisis was also discussed. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the deputies to be more courageous, to help not only with words of support but also with actions, more often raise the issue of the situation in Belarus, support the women's movement, students, doctors, workers and everyone who suffers because of their political views. They also talked about the idea of initiating an international investigation of crimes against humanity in Belarus. Spain could be its initiator.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Javier Solana discussed the organization of negotiations to resolve the political crisis in Belarus and the parties to these negotiations. Solana has been to Belarus many times and took part in solving similar crises.
During the visit, the expansion of the diplomatic presence in Belarus was discussed. Spanish representatives can be more active, help the Belarusians in their fight against the regime, and in the future, open the Spanish embassy in Minsk. Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya said that Spain will prepare a plan to help Belarus. This plan will include educational programs, assistance to students, the media, civil society and victims of violence. Tsikhanouskaya and González Laya agreed to strengthen the role and status of the Belarusian diaspora, to support the activities of the Belarusian People's Embassy and People's Representative Centres, which recently opened in Madrid and Barcelona. Spain will also help the Belarusian democratic movement prepare for the transition of power.
Tsikhanouskaya thanked Spain and the government for refusing to recognize Lukashenka and the officially announced election results, solidarity with the Belarusian people.
