The catastrophe at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant 40 years ago demonstrated what nuclear power becomes in the hands of an authoritarian regime. Chornobyl became a symbol of irresponsibility and betrayal, a symbol of the danger posed by the uncontrolled use of nuclear energy.
Today, the Lukashenka regime continues the same irresponsible policy. Over 32 years of his rule, benefits have been abolished, support programs for those affected have been curtailed, and food production has been brought back to contaminated land. The regime endangers the lives of millions of Belarusians by deploying Russian nuclear weapons on our territory and constructing the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant without proper international oversight.
Through a fraudulent referendum in 2022, the provision on the neutral and nuclear-free status of Belarus was removed from the Constitution. The subsequent deployment of nuclear weapons on our territory created a direct threat to peace and independence, turning Belarus into a target and putting millions of lives at risk.
We call for:
- restoring the nuclear-free status of Belarus;
- ending provocations and nuclear blackmail;
- withdrawing Russian nuclear weapons from Belarus;
- ensuring transparency in the operation of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant and full compliance with international nuclear safety standards, including those of the International Atomic Energy Agency, taking into account substantiated international concerns, including documented violations under the Espoo Convention;
- launching a broad public dialogue on the use of nuclear technologies in Belarus.
Chornobyl reminds us that nuclear safety is impossible without transparency, accountability, and sovereignty. Belarus must not be a platform for Russian nuclear threats.
