Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at a press briefing in Warsaw:
“First of all, let me thank the Marshal of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, for her solidarity and warm welcome here in the Polish Senate.
During this visit, I met with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Minister Radosław Sikorski, Minister Szłapka, Sejm Marshal Hołownia, Education and Development Ministers, and Parliament members. This evening, I will meet with President Andrzej Duda.
Let me also thank all Polish political leaders, the Sejm, the Senate, and the Polish people for your solidarity and commitment. I am glad that the Belarusian issue unites all parties and groups in Poland.
Poland has become a second home for hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who fled terror. Thank you! Our nations are united by a shared history, culture, values, and struggle for freedom. We are now working together to elevate our cooperation to a new level:
- A group “For a Democratic Belarus” has been established in the Sejm and Senate under the leadership of Grzegorz Schetyna.
- We are also working on a cooperation agreement between Belarus’ democratic forces and the Polish Parliament.
- I am glad that Poland has made Belarus one of its priorities during its Presidency of the EU Council. In February, together with Minister Sikorski, we will host the Kosciuszko Forum, bringing together key European leaders and experts.
- During Poland’s EU Presidency, we also intend to draft a concept on security and EU-Belarus relations to ensure that Belarus remains a priority for Europe.
At our meetings, we also discussed efforts to secure the release of Andrzej Poczobut and all political prisoners. They are our heroes, and they must be free.
We talked about strengthening sanctions against the Lukashenka regime to hold it accountable for the repression in Belarus and its involvement in Russia’s aggression.
We agreed that the ’election’ scheduled for January 26 is a farce. Lukashenka remains an illegitimate dictator who seized power through violence and must be isolated, not legitimized.
We also discussed practical support for Belarusians. Prime Minister Tusk assured me that migration restrictions will not affect Belarusians fleeing repression, underscoring Poland’s commitment to our people. We must expand mobility opportunities and support scholarships and exchanges. I also asked for visas and asylum for Belarusians to preserve their connection to Europe. I understand the security challenges and we are ready to assist in checks.
We also discussed support for Belsat TV, which plays a crucial role in countering propaganda and the ‘Russian world’. I was assured that support for Belsat and Belarusian media in exile will continue.
We must remain united in supporting Ukraine. We must give Ukraine everything it needs to win. A free Ukraine will bring us closer to a free Belarus.
I am confident that one day, Belarus will join Poland in the European family of free and democratic nations. Together, we will make this vision a reality.
Thank you!”
