Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Madrid with Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares. She expressed her gratitude for the invitation to Madrid, Spain’s contribution of €50,000 to the International Humanitarian Fund for Belarusians, as well as for Spain’s continued support in the European Council, the UN, and the European Political Community.
Minister Albares reaffirmed Spain’s unwavering support for Belarus’ democratic forces and all efforts to strengthen democracy and independence in Belarus.
Mr. Albares and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the situation in Belarus – in particular, the intensification of repression, the militarization of the economy, and the upcoming military exercises “Zapad-2025”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for maintained pressure on the regime to achieve the release of political prisoners and to stop Belarus’ involvement in the war.
Proposals were submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding simplified legal procedures for Belarusians in Spain, including recognition of expired Belarusian passports and the issuance of special documents already in use in several EU countries.
A possible mission of democratic Belarus in Madrid was also discussed, which could help strengthen cooperation between Belarusian and Spanish civil societies.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also met with Spain’s Secretary of State for EU Affairs, Fernando Sampedro Marcos, ambassadors of EU countries, and members of parliament to promote the formation of a group “For a Democratic Belarus” in the Cortes Generales.
At the end of the meeting, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked Minister Albares for his determination and consistent support: “Though we are separated by great distance, Spain has always prioritized human rights and democracy. We share common values, and I am glad that we have such reliable allies in the European Union”.
