Today, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held talks with the UK Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty, to discuss deepening cooperation between the United Kingdom and the democratic forces of Belarus. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya expressed her gratitude to the UK for its unwavering support and welcomed the launch of Strategic Consultations between the UK government and Belarus’ democratic forces.
These high-level consultations will establish a structured dialogue in three key areas:
- Politics and human rights – the situation of political prisoners, strategies for their release, transnational repression, and the UK’s diplomatic role in Belarus-related issues.
- Culture and diaspora – education, the preservation of Belarusian culture, and support for Belarusians in exile.
- Media and countering propaganda – the impact of funding cuts for independent media, strategies to combat disinformation, and the growing influence of Russian propaganda in Belarus.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We are grateful to the UK for supporting the Belarusian people. These consultations will strengthen our cooperation and ensure that Belarus remains on the international agenda”.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also emphasized the importance of a long-term UK strategy on Belarus. The Strategic Consultations mark a new stage in bilateral cooperation, reaffirming London’s steadfast commitment to human rights, democracy, and security in Europe.
