Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski held a closed briefing for ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions from over 20 countries. They discussed the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, possible support mechanisms, and strategies for securing their release.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized a grim and persistent trend. Even as some are released, the repression continues – new arrests follow. The regime is using people as hostages to bargain with the international community.
📌 Release of a group of political prisoners
“This showed that everything is possible when we are coordinated, united, and consistent. But only 1.5% of political prisoners were freed. Over 1,150 remain behind bars. Repression is intensifying. And we must fight for each and every prisoner”.
📌 A new wave of hostages
“Those released weren’t given real freedom – they were deported. And for every freed person, a new hostage is taken”.
📌 A dead end without change
“Lukashenka wants sanctions lifted without making real changes. But change must be irreversible. Ending repression and freeing political prisoners is the first step toward a national dialogue that the Belarusian society is demanding”.
The briefing was followed by a discussion in which 12 ambassadors took the floor. They raised issues ranging from the next steps to secure the release of political prisoners to tools for supporting civil society, human rights defenders, and independent media.
