The Analytical Center of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office invites you to the discussion on the Role of the United States in the Struggle for Democracy in Belarus and How Can the USA Help. It will take place on July 15 (Thursday) at 10 am Washington DC Time (EDT) | 4 pm Brussels Time (GMT+2) | 5 pm Vilnius Time (GMT+3).
The discussion will be held in an online format via ZOOM. We encourage those who would like to participate in the discussion and ask questions to register here.
N.B. the event will be recorded.
More on the event below.
The Role of the United States in the Struggle for Democracy in Belarus and How Can the USA Help?
Bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus were complex and ambiguous even before the 2020 Belarusian elections. A breakthrough in relations in 2019, associated with an agreement on the exchange of ambassadors between the countries, was leveled by Aliaksandr Lukashenka's refusal to resign after the de facto loss of the presidential election and the start of massive repressions inside the country. The U.S. responded to these events in Belarus with increased support for civil society, contacts with democratic leaders, and sanctions against representatives of the Belarusian regime and some businesses. In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus made a number of “Cold War” messages on counteraction and counter-sanctions against the United States.
The current situation raises questions about how relations between the two countries can and should develop at the official level? How can the United States support the people of Belarus, taking into account the geopolitical situation in the region? What are the challenges to regional security posed by the political crisis in Belarus?
These questions will be discussed in a panel discussion organized by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Moderator:
- Tatsiana Chulitskaya, Researcher of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy of Vytautas Magnus University
Speakers:
- Valery Kavaleuski, Head of the Cabinet, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Representative on Foreign Affairs.
- David J. Kramer, Former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Senior Fellow, Florida International University.
- Jonathan Katz, Senior Fellow and Director, Democracy Initiatives.
- Siarhei Kharytonau, World Journalist Fellow at NYU Carter Journalism Institute, Researcher at iSANS.
