During her official visit to Madrid, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Cortes Generales (Spanish Parliament). She presented practical proposals to the MPs, spanning policy, civil society, and humanitarian action and aimed at improving the situation for Belarusians in exile.
- Implement a support system and legal solutions for Belarusians who have no valid passport. “Many are struggling with legal documents. The regime refuses to renew passports abroad, leaving people without documents. We need practical solutions – for example, alien passports”.
- Advocate for the release of political prisoners on international platforms. “I’m grateful to the Spanish government for supporting the International Humanitarian Fund and organizing visits for the children of political prisoners. But much more can be done, so I urge you to raise the issue of political prisoners in Belarus as often as possible on the international stage”.
- Do not equate Belarusians with Russians. “Unlike Russia, Belarusians have opposed the war openly since 2022. We are a European nation with a European identity. Support our position: Belarus belongs in Europe. This gives hope to our people”.
- Strengthen people-to-people ties between Spain and Belarus. “Events, exchanges, scholarships – everything makes a difference”.
- Keep Belarus on the agenda. “Do not legitimize the dictators’ actions – hold them accountable”.
6. Support Belarus’ democratic forces. “The situation is unstable and can change unexpectedly. Only two paths lie ahead. Belarus either falls under Russian control, or it takes the European road. The democratic forces represent that European alternative for the Belarusian people”.
