“Dear High Representative Borrel,
Honorable Ministers,
It is my honor and privilege to speak to you on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The case of Belarus shows how disrespect for human rights leads to security problems. Dear Josep, thank you for making this conversation possible, and to you, ministers, for gathering on this Sunday evening.
Belarusians will forever be grateful to your countries for supporting our democratic aspirations.
Our nation, your immediate neighbor, is going through a tough test. Political and human rights crisis in Belarus spilled over national borders and badly damaged regional security.
Our own independence and sovereignty are under grave threat because of the illegitimate and illegal actions of Lukashenka.
Yet, more than ever, Belarusian society is clear that it wants to become a truly independent country, a democratic society, a reliable partner, and part of the European family.
To achieve this goal, we must dismantle the dictatorship. We must stop Belarus’ participation in the aggression against Ukraine. We must restore constitutional order and establish democratic institutions.
On this path, we have built up a movement that is broad, consolidated, forward-leaning, and motivated. Together with civil society and political forces, we formed alternative institutions of power, such as the United Transitional Cabinet and the Coordination Council.
We are formalizing relations with our closest partners. I applaud the EEAS decision to launch a Consultative Group with Belarusian democratic forces. On Tuesday, the Group is meeting for the second time.
Just last week, jointly with the State Department, I launched the Belarus-US Strategic Dialogue. It is a sign that the coalition of states for democratic and independent Belarus remains unified, strong and keeps evolving.
The Contact Group with the Council of Europe is also proving its relevance and positive impact. I also commend the European Parliament for adopting a strong resolution on Belarus and call on Member States to follow its clear and timely policy recommendations.
I am grateful to the states who appointed special envoys to work with democratic Belarus: Estonia, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and we have clear signals from Washington that such a decision will be made soon.
I am also convinced that EU Special Envoy to work with democratic forces would strengthen coordination within the EU and with external partners – US, UK, Canada and others.
But we need to do more to preserve our statehood and liberate our nation. Since 2020, our partners have aligned to address the crisis in Belarus. This includes political non-recognition, diplomatic isolation, and pressure, sanctions, accountability, support for democratic movement and help to political prisoners. But the practical results could be better.
Unfortunately, many of these measures have been implemented incrementally and slowly. To make them work we need strategy, focus, and political will. Yes, we have created problems for the regime. But have not created enough pressure to make repressions or the war unacceptably costly.
Today, I urge the EU to develop a path to take Belarus out of the war. The stalemate on battlefield demands to explore options that can weaken Russia and help Ukraine. Our view of the situation is clear: Lukashenka is the only ally of Putin but also is the weakest link.
A democratic Belarus is possible and it will be the most severe blow to Russia and will help Ukraine win.
We have listed the measures to get Belarus out of the war. If we all work together on implementing them, it can help end the dictatorship, stop Belarus’ involvement in the war, but also weaken Russia’s assault on the West.
I ask to add this proposal to our meeting’s record. I suggest that it becomes our joint action plan. We are prepared for dedicated consultations on this task.
Once Belarus is free, we will make a decisive geopolitical choice. Belarus will leave Russia-controlled political and military alliances and will pursue EU membership – as it was declared by political forces.
We all can make steps today to make this a reality. I would welcome your support of the European aspirations of Belarusians. I am grateful to Minister Billström for making the Swedish position clear and public – “Belarus will be in the EU”. Or high representative Borrell, who said that “Belarus’ future is in Europe”.
On the practical side, we want to start drafting the Association Agreement to have it ready by the time it can be signed by the legitimate government of Belarus as people want to see a credible alternative to the regime’s impasse.
I ask you to support the EU institutions in providing technical assistance for this effort.
Meanwhile, we must take care of our people. There are tens of thousands of Belarusians directly harmed by repressions. Thousands of political prisoners and their families need our help. Every single day, up to 20 people are being detained. They are tortured and held incommunicado. I have not heard anything about my husband since March. There are rumors, that leader Mikalai Statkevich is not living. The release of political prisoners should be our absolute priority.
I ask you to apply maximum pressure on the regime while demanding their release and support their rehabilitation.
Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians in exile need help with legalization to alleviate their hardship. I call on the Member states to simplify migration procedures for Belarusians.
This fall, Lukashenka has launched repressions on Belarusians abroad. The regime denied Belarusian consulates abroad to renew passports and documents. It made a basic governmental function a tool of oppression.
In response to popular demands, we will start issuing a new Belarusian national passport. This will deny Lukashenka the possibility to control people’s lives when they reside in free countries. This will strengthen the agency of the Belarusian people wherever we are. I ask the EU to support our project as an example of supporting a positive agenda and responding in practice to dictator’s illegal and immoral actions.
Sanctions have not changed regime’s behavior yet. But they can be instrumental in weakening its ability to conduct repressions and to assist Russians in the war. One of the ways is close the loopholes that allow Lukashenka and Putin to help each other bypass sanctions. I call on the EU to adopt a new sanctions package and to close existing loopholes. And sanctions should not have derogations.
The regime should not stay unpunished: not only for crimes against Belarusians but also for the abduction of Ukrainian Children. International accountability mechanisms – feared by Lukashenka and his cronies – are still unused. There’s no deficit in evidence of his crimes. We need a political will of states to make the next step – in the ICC, ICJ, as a special tribunal or under universal jurisdiction.
Therefore, I propose the creation of a joint contact group to develop a strategy to ensure accountability for the crimes and its implementation.
It is crucial to support democratic forces – to strengthen our agency and ability to deliver benefits to Belarusians. While Russian support for Lukashenka’s regime is in billions, aid to the democratic Belarus is enough to sustain the movement. But it’s not enough to win.
Lukashenka’s regime often tries to trick democratic countries. Once again, they offer dialogue with the West while throwing people in prisons. Recently, Lukashenka launched another attack targeting family members of politicians and activists, raiding hundreds of houses and arresting property. This shows his real intentions.
They will try to present the so-called Elections in Belarus in 2024 as a step forward. But it’s not elections. It’s imitation and farce. it does not meet even closely the definition of elections. It’s illegal and it is a fraud. I call on the EU to announce in advance a position that there are no basic conditions for fair elections. This will teach the regime a lesson before the 2025 presidential campaign.
Dear ministers,
The path to freedom and democracy is long and difficult. But once we have taken it, we must stay the course, no matter how hard it is.
I ask the EU and member states to continue to support us on this path to a free, independent, European Belarus.
Thank you for your attention”.
